National Library of Wales Launches Immersive Experience for Artist Kyffin Williams

The National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth has launched a new project that brings the rugged landscapes of Sir Kyffin Williams to life through an immersive experience. Following the trend of digital exhibitions dedicated to masters like Vincent van Gogh and Paul Cézanne, this display animates hundreds of pieces from the library’s extensive collection, setting them to music and motion.

Understanding the Immersive Experience

Visitors to the library can now engage with the artist’s work in a unique, multi-room setting. The show begins with an introduction by singer Sir Bryn Terfel, followed by a second room where landscapes and seascapes swirl around the viewer, accompanied by a chamber-folk string trio. A third room features an interactive electronic self-portrait, allowing visitors to touch the surface to perceive the texture of the artist’s signature heavy palette knife application.

The National Library of Wales is bringing Sir Kyffin Williams’ iconic landscapes to life through digital animation.

Art curator Morfudd Bevan noted that the project aims to reach new, younger audiences. The library holds the world’s largest collection of Williams’ work, including 200 oil paintings and over 1,000 pieces on paper, bequeathed by the artist upon his death in 2006. Dennis Outten of Focal Studios, the show's designers, explained that the technical challenge was to maintain the integrity of Williams' thick paint textures during the animation process. The team spent months studying the original works to ensure the digital representation remained true to his methods.

Why it matters

The exhibition represents a significant shift in how the National Library of Wales engages with its archives. By moving works from the quiet storage rooms into a public-facing, interactive format, the library makes the cultural heritage of Wales more accessible to the general public.

This initiative preserves the legacy of an artist who deeply romanticized the Welsh landscape and the concept of hiraeth. For the public, it offers a rare opportunity to experience the tactile nature of Williams' art in a modern, intimate setting that remains free of charge.