Five life‑sized sculptures representing women from across Welsh history and legend have been installed in Cardiff Central Square, offering visitors a chance to sit alongside figures whose stories are linked to Cadw‑protected sites across Wales.
Public art that invites engagement
The commission was overseen by Cadw and executed by Cardiff‑based maker See What We Can Make. The figures have been positioned on benches around the public square so members of the public can sit with them, take photographs and learn more about the women they represent.
Organisers describe the installation as a way of shifting public attention from the familiar narratives of kings and battles to the roles played by women in shaping Welsh society, from myth and medieval times through to industrial and folk histories.
What the project aims to do
- Bring lesser‑told female stories into a prominent public space in the capital.
- Encourage visitors and residents to engage with heritage through an accessible, photographic display.
- Link each figure to an associated Cadw site, where people can later explore the histories in more depth.
“History isn’t only shaped by the people whose names appear in textbooks. It’s also shaped by the people whose experiences are less often told,”
The quotation above comes from the Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport, emphasising Cadw’s intent to use the display as a prompt for conversation and curiosity about the past.
Temporary display with a touring element
Officials say the figures will not remain permanently in the square. Later this summer each sculpture will travel to its respective Cadw location, where further interpretation and context will be available for visitors wishing to learn more.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Commissioner | Cadw |
| Maker | See What We Can Make (Cardiff‑based) |
| Number of sculptures | 5 |
| Display location | Cardiff Central Square (benches) |
| Next stage | Pieces to travel to associated Cadw sites later this summer |
By situating the work within a busy public thoroughfare the scheme aims to reach people who may not otherwise visit a heritage site. The decision to locate the figures on benches explicitly invites interaction: a photograph with a sculpture now functions as an on‑the‑move prompt to find out more about the woman represented and the place she is associated with.
For Cardiff, the display adds another layer to Central Square’s evolving public realm, where transport, retail and cultural initiatives intersect. The touring element also offers a practical benefit: once the sculptures relocate to their Cadw sites, visitors can follow a physical trail to deepen their understanding of the historical and mythic contexts that inspired the works.
Information about the exact identities of the figures and the Cadw locations they will visit has been provided by Cadw at the time of installation and will accompany the sculptures when they move on later this summer.
The project is part of a broader effort to widen the narratives represented in public heritage displays and to place female experiences more visibly within Wales’s shared historic landscape.
