Visual Art
Streetarts
Rosie Lesso reports on an Edinburgh Art Festival programme that's more engaged with the city than ever before . .
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dinburgh residents are used to a takeover
at this time of year. As hoardes of
performers. artists. comedians and their assorted entourages set up a whole other city on top of theirs. the festivals can feel divorced from the realities of Edinburgh life. This year. though. the Edinburgh Art Festival programme indicates a subtle shift in priorities. Although still offering unparalleled opportunities to experience both big name UK artists (Richard Wilson. Richard Hamilton. and of course Tracey Emin) and exciting international work (particularly Janet (‘ardiff and George Bures Miller at the Eruitmarket and Kay Rosen at the refurbished lngleby Gallery). what marks this year's programme out is the increase in exhibitions. events and occurrences that engage directly with the city.
‘There‘s not a strong tradition here of using Edinburgh as a canvas. perhaps because it is such a beautiful. venerable city.‘ says EAE creative director Joanne Brown. It’s her second year running the festival. and the success of events like last year’s Jun/ins Pub/ins. which reached out and connected with local residents. has clearly inspired her.
‘This year. there’s much more of a partnership between the artists and the city. It takes new artists with fresh eyes to use the city this way.‘
The shift may also be due to the economic climate. as a number of the smaller galleries have been forced out of their premises and become nomadic. The recently displaced Amber Roome. for example. has gone camping: the (inn/cu (:‘allev exhibition. part of their ongoing Portobello-centred project ‘Big Things on the Beach' features a range of local and international artists exhibiting painting. sculpture. sound installation and performance in a gallery space made tip of 30 private. sea-facing gardens. East Lothian artist Ettie Spencer will also be getting her hands dirty; her project. 'Iobucm Home. in association with the Scottish Agricultural College. involves growing a crop of tobacco on the facade of St Margaret‘s House on London Road. As well as the aesthetic benefits of adding greenery to the front of the austere old pensions building. the work has roots (sorry) in Edinburgh‘s less savoury history. ‘Yiibm'co Home alludes to a history of plantation
70 THE LIST FESTIVAL MAGAZINE 9.! .Jrrl /’ Arm; WNW