This is Video of the Week from Wales Arts Review. We’ll be showcasing some of the best art in Wales with a new video shared every week. From music to drama and everything in between, videos will not be limited by medium. Today’s video is We Echo, a new poetry film written and directed by Taylor Edmonds.
We’re taking a dive into the world of poetry for this week’s Video of the Week. Produced by Wales Arts International, We Echo is a magical story about a girl that is both human and of the natural world, called to return to nature by the sea through a dream of the end of earth. The piece is inspired by the things Taylor learnt during her time as Poet in Residence for the Future Generations Commissioner, and explores how we, as people, are inherently linked to nature; for our survival, wellbeing and spirituality.
Described by Eluned Hâf, Head of Wales Arts International, as a “beautiful, inspiring and thought-provoking poetry film, reminding us of our fundamental and urgent responsibilities – now and for future generations – to the natural world that nurtures and sustains us”, We Echo also features dance artist and choreographer Jodi Ann Nicholson. The poem was creatively translated to Welsh by Nia Morais.
Taylor Edmonds is a poet and writer from South Wales, she was previously a recipient of Literature Wales’ and Firefly Press’ 2020 Rising Stars awards and her debut poetry pamphlet Back Teeth was published on 30 September 2022, with Broken Sleep Books. We Echo connects with themes explored more widely in Edmonds’ work, including the centrality of nature to our survival and the development of womanhood and female empowerment. Edmonds has written previously for Wales Arts Review about our need for connections to people and places and has continued to explore the impact of these connections on female identity throughout her work.
You can read more about the making of We Echo here.
