Community, Culture and Digital Officer Callum James reflects on his exhibition Ojczyzna, Patria, Gwlad: Two Roads to Ystradgynlais in the 20th Century.
This was a display shown in Ystradgynlais Library in 2025 which was organised to encourage the community to connect with Herman and Conti’s shared heritage and journeys to Ystradgynlais in the 1900s.
For Josef Herman’s story, I created a short, narrated film for the digital totem in the library, using his own words from journals and his autobiography, with subtitles in both English and Welsh. This was supported by books and archival material for anyone keen to explore further. Alongside this, visitors could follow Attilio Conti’s journey through an interactive map, using family photographs to link personal memories with the wider historical picture.
“Islwyn is leaving Ystalyfera,” Josef Herman wrote in his journal in 1948. “I will miss him.” Like many before him, Herman understood what it meant to leave home, having fled Warsaw years earlier. Around the same time, Attilio Conti also began a new life, travelling from northern Italy to South Wales. Both men eventually made their home in Ystradgynlais – and both became part of the town’s story.
Their journeys inspired Ojczyzna, Patria, Gwlad, an exhibition exploring movement, challenge and belonging. I wanted people to connect with these stories in a more personal way, so the exhibition was designed to be interactive and engaging.
The best part of the exhibition was speaking with visitors. People shared family stories, memories, and surprises – including one unforgettable comment about how handsome Attilio was! Many were amazed to learn about his First World War service, or the impact of antisemitism on Herman’s early life, often saying, “I never knew that.”
That sense of discovery is what makes local heritage so powerful. This exhibition became a shared exchange of stories and memories – people helping people to remember the past, a spirit that has always been at the heart of Ystradgynlais.
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The Journals of Josef Herman (edited by Nini Herman) – A really useful insight into Herman’s emotions, his political opinions, as well as his creative process.
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Related Twilights (edited by Tony Curtis) – Herman’s autobiography which delves into the historical context of his time.
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A Working Life by Nini Herman – a moving biography written by Herman’s second wife.
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Notes from a Welsh Diary – a combination of Herman’s journal entries and a considerable amount of his artwork.
