During the 2020 lockdown, Rees felt an urgent need to undertake a process of healing and recovery—to remember how to be an artist.

Supported by an Arts Council of Wales stabilisation grant, he spent a week as an ‘artist in restoration’ on the stage of Swansea’s Taliesin Arts Centre, creating a space to explore, invent and play.

The process gave rise to CROMEN: a sculptural framework constructed from recycled wooden pallets. Conceived as a place of sanctuary, shelter, stillness and meditation, it became both a repository and an incubator for ideas, memories, conversations and performance—a space in which to confront and navigate the challenges of a radically altered cultural landscape.

Further lockdown restrictions prevented Rees from sharing the process live with artists and audiences as originally intended. In response, the project shifted its focus towards film.During lockdown 2020, Rees urgently felt the need to engage in a methodical healing and recovery process to remember how to be an artist.

With the support of an Arts Council Wales stabilisation grant, he underwent a weeks ‘artist in restoration’ on the Taliesin Arts Centre stage in Swansea to explore, invent and play with a system. The result was CROMEN, a structure/ sculpture/ framework made from recycled wooden pallets – a space for sanctuary, shelter, quietude and meditation, a repository and incubator of ideas, conversation, memories, discussion and performance to authentically consider, confront and navigate the issues and challenges arising from the current altered cultural landscape.

Due to further lockdown restrictions, he was unable to share the process live with an audience/artists as originally intended so shifted focus on the creation of a film.

The result work CARBON < 19 a movement mantra considers how art and culture in a time of crisis – and how they can offer a vital space for contemplation , reflection and renewal.

Dave Mangenner Gough (creative brother)
Jenny Hall (architect/designer)
Eifion Porter (carpenter)
Helen Ognjenovic-Morgan (textile artist)
Isabel Griffin (creative producer)

This project was made possible by the Arts Council of Wales Stabilisation Fund through the National Lottery Fund. Thanks to Taliesin Arts Centre, National Theatre Wales, University of Tasmania & Ten Days on the Island

CROMEN has since developed into CRO|PAN a collaboration with Pickle Factory Dance Foundation, India in partnership with The British Council and National Eisteddfod Wales