In the Cabinet: Ella Louise Jones
15 June - 17 August 2026The object from the collection that inspired this work is the Bellarmine Jug, discovered near the west tower of Bangor Cathedral in 1874. During the 17th century, these jugs were believed to protect against spirits and witchcraft. They were often filled with substances such as urine, nails, and other personal objects before being buried underground as part of a ritual intended to ward off harm. At the time, the jug was understood as a symbolic stand-in for the human body, with its interior imagined as a stomach. In response, Ella has created a series of felted, embroidered, and latch-hooked textile works, alongside forms cast in latex. These pieces are inspired by the shape and texture of the stomach and other internal organs. She has also drawn inspiration from the natural growth that may have surrounded the jug while it remained buried underground, combining bodily and organic forms to explore themes of concealment, transformation, and decay.
