Ymateb/Response is the title of the new exhibition at Oriel Q - Queen's Hall Gallery, Narberth, of Llansteffan-based artist, Osi Rhys Osmond. It is a direct response to the conflict and questions our cultural acceptance of war and violence.

The invasion of Gaza at the end of last year sent shockwaves throughout the world, not least because of devastating number of civilian casualties. The media bombarded us with graphic images of the victims; for many of us these images have been carved into our consciousness and continue to haunt us.

Osi was a lecturer at CCTA School of Art in Carmarthen for 15 years and continues to lecture at Swansea Metropolitan University. He presents numerous programmes on S4C, the most recent being 'Lliwiau.' Previously, he has travelled extensively throughout the Middle East and has spent time in war-torn areas, such as Palestine and Sudan.

In his highly emotive exhibition, he brings his personal experience of war and conflict quite literally onto our doorstep, with three drawings depicting large, chaotic scenes of war on Llansteffan beach and coastline.

"When they started bombing Gaza, I realised that the Gaza strip is about the same size as the coastline and water that I see from my garden in Llansteffan," explained Osi.

"So I was struck by the image of a million-and-a-half people down there with bombs and rockets falling on them."

For Osi, this vision was further reinforced by the constant sound of bombing and machine gunning, which drifts over the water to Llansteffan from the military base in Pembrey.

The exhibition, which consists of a body of paintings, three large drawings and several watercolours, takes the viewer on a series of emotional journeys and also reflects the artist's great love of poetry. Engraved within the three drawings are the words of the poets, Waldo Williams, Mahmoud Darwish and Frank Bidart.

Also on show, in Oriel Fach, is a collection of etchings by Peter Blincow.

After painting, drawing and teaching art at Haverfordwest Grammar School for many years, Peter Blincow was invited some years after retiring by one of his most talented pupils, Neil Crowther, to take up etching. This small selection of his work shows that as well as a talented painter, Pete has mastered this medium and has produced some delightful images.

The photographs on the stairs are by Chris Rees, a lecturer of media studies in Pembrokeshire College. He recorded his daily journey to and from his home in St. Clears to the college and then arranged these 'snapshots' into montages which tell the story of this journey and captures the idiosyncrasies of everyday life.

These exhibitions are open from 10 am to 5 pm Wednesday-Saturday and run until June 27. Any enquiries, telephone (01834) 869454, email [email protected]">[email protected] or visit the web- http://www.orielqueenshallgallery.org.uk">www.orielqueenshallgallery.org.uk