Exhibitions - Arddangosfeydd

Subterranean Architecture, Stepwells in Western India

Photography by Richard Cox

Artist Richard Cox has been a regular visitor to Western India, but his last three visits were to document Stepwells, a little known aspect of traditional architecture. Stepwells were constructed over the last 12 centuries in India to provide water in the arid regions of Rajasthan and Gujarat; they also offered cool rest areas for travellers and even a place to socialise and to worship.

The water was reached by a series of steps. The combination of groundwater and rainwater would fill the wells during the Monsoon and as the dry season progressed the water level dropped. Some Stepwells are simple, but the Hindi structures built through royal patronage are often more elaborate, with sculptures of deities and animals.

Although a great many of the wells are beyond repair, the Government has decided to restore some of the important sites, in recognition of their place in traditional Indian architecture.

Mae’r ffotograffydd Richard Cox wedi ymweld yn rheolaidd â Gorllewin yr India ac ar ei dri ymweliad olaf bu’n cofnodi’r Stepwells, sef agwedd anghyffredin ar bensaerniaeth draddodiadol y wlad. Adeiladwyd y Stepwells dros y 12 canrif ddiwethaf i ddarparu cyflenwadau o ddwˆ r; buont hefyd yn cynnig llefydd i ymlacio ar gyfer teithwyr ac hyd yn oed lle i gymdeithasu ac addoli. Cyrhaeddwyd y dwˆ r trwy gyfres o stepiau. Mae rhai o’r strwythurau yn syml ond mae eraill, a godwyd yn sgil cefnogaeth ariannol frenhinol, yn fwy cymhleth, gydag addurniadau manwl yn cynrychioli duwiau ac anifeiliaid.

Yn y bedwaredd ganrif ar bymtheg adeiladwyd pympiau yn lle’r ffynhonnau ac mae’r rhan fwyaf ohonynt yn sych erbyn hyn. Er nad yw’n bosibl atgyweirio llawer ohonynt mae’r Llywodreth wedi penderfynu adfer rhai o’r safleoedd pwysicaf er mwyn cydnabod eu lle mewn pensaerniaeth draddodiadol yr India.

There will be a free artists' talk for this exhibition on Weds 15th July at 6.00pm.  Click here for more details.