Heb Ffiniau

Heb Ffiniau was a research and development project exploring language, identity and landscape, and how they shape our sense of belonging. Bringing together an eclectic mix of artforms, the project asked: what does language mean to you?

Created and led by North Wales based movement artist Sarah Mumford, with support from Hijinx Theatre Company and Pontio Arts and Innovation Centre, Bangor, funded through Arts Council of Wales national lottery funding.

"Somewhere in the space between us there's a whisper of a dance big enough for all of us"
— — Wendy Ostler

Perthyn - Belonging soundtrack - trac sain

About the project

Heb Ffiniau is a research and development project exploring the connection between Language, Identity and Landscape, and how they shape our sense of belonging.

Welcome to our new gallery page!

Welcome to the Heb Ffiniau gallery! Exciting news following the project celebration — all three Heb Ffiniau videos are now available in one place.

What does language mean to you? 'Heart and Sky'

Individual artist responses to the question: what does language mean to you? Exploring 'Heart and Sky' through movement, poetry and creative response.

A few words from Sarah

The connection between language, landscape and belonging is something that I have been pondering for years really, particularly growing up in the rugged landscape of North Wales, and growing up bilingually, speaking both Welsh and English. Where I feel I most belong is when I'm out in the mountains, the springy purple heather, buzzards circling above, the sheep grazing on the slopes, not a soul to be seen, all weathers, I love the rain. The slate quarries were the backdrop to my childhood, I have memories of playing in the old railway carts that used to carry the slate, and the purple-blue piles of slate waste, that glow gold in the sun, feel familiar, and feel like home.

But home and belonging don't quite equate to the same thing, I couldn't quite fathom how I could have such a deep connection with the landscape, but also often feel like I didn't belong in this place I call home. Then there was language — how could language be such a drive for positive and bring people together, but on the other hand also create such a divide? Identity, what makes us who we are? Who am I? All these ruminations were surfacing from my own experiences and I was definitely trying to make some sense of them.

It became very clear that the project needed more than just my voice, and that these are things that are so relevant to us all. We ended up with an amazing group of people involved in the project, and in some way I think it helped us all get through the difficult time of the pandemic, through connecting and sharing. It really was a very special project, and on a personal level quite cathartic — listening to other people, opening my eyes to looking at things in a different way.

Early on in the process Heb Ffiniau became something that had its own life, its own energy, it became its own entity in a way, representing a space to come together, to talk, share, and create, a space without boundaries. But as with the transient nature of life and art Heb Ffiniau is now also a space to explore new things, new ideas, and new creative journeys.

Sarah Mumford — Movement Artist