C H I N O O K
Osi Rhys Osmond’s Chinook painting was presented as a gift from the people of Wales, to the Flemish Parliament during a reception at the Senedd – National Assembly for Wales, Cardiff, on November 16th 2017.
‘This painting, Chinook from the series Hawk and Helicopter 2010, is a gift from the people of Wales to the people of Flanders to mark the shared history of Wales and Flanders during the First World War and the continued friendship between both nations.
The Welsh Government collaborated with the Arts Council of Wales to select a suitable piece of contemporary Welsh art dealing with conflict and peace, to join the Flemish Parliament’s rich contemporary art collection. The Welsh Government and National Assembly for Wales wish to thank the Arts Council of Wales for its work in identifying a selection of suitable artworks and for its role in the final selection of the artwork, selected by a panel chaired by Elin Jones AM, Llywydd.
The artist is South Wales born Osi Rhys Osmond, who was one of Wales’ most respected artists, authors, broadcasters and commentators on arts and culture through the medium of Welsh and English. His work always involved the close examination of nature and the human condition.
Osi Rhys Osmond held many one-man exhibitions and has been amongst other eminent Welsh artists exhibiting their work in venues in Wales, London, Lithuania, Denmark and the USA.
This is the final painting to remain in the artist’s estate from a large suite of paintings addressing a loved landscape, visited almost daily, overlooking Carmarthen Bay and where the artist engaged with concerns for the environment and world peace, in a place of stunning natural beauty that also doubles as a military training ground for airborne operations. The Welsh Government and National Assembly for Wales are grateful to Mrs Hilary Rhys Osmond, the artist’s widow, for making the painting available for purchase.’ (abstract from the presentation)
Osi Rhys Osmond 