ART PREVIEW
V IN THE FRAME
Ian llarnllton Finlay, listed as the 35th most tanous artist in the world recently in a German magazine, gives his opinion on the planned Gallery oi Scottish Art which will be built In Glasgow, iunds permitting.
‘l’m actually quite sorry about the decision to site the gallery in Glasgow. The Edinburgh scheme had great possibilities. I was invited by the architects to work with them and l was really quite excited. The site at llean House opposite the Gallery oi Modern Art could have been an Arcadian place; the grounds could have been landscaped together and it would have been a real visionary rediscovery oi the area. It would have been creating a real kind oi pastoral idyll in the middle oi Edinburgh rather than the subtracting of landscape treat a park which they will be doing at Keivingrove.
‘The idea oi having a gallery oi Scottish art isn’t a great one either. It’s making Scotland seem similar to a small Scandinavian country. But what really struck me was the list oi trustees oi the llational Galleries. Who are these people? What are their backgrounds and who put them there? I was really quite amazed because tor the most part I’d never heard oi any oi thorn.
‘Ci course I would be like to be my work to be included in the gallery. But I don’t even know it It would be. i made an appearance in the BBC series about Scottish art, The Bigger Picture, but I don’t seem to have been included inthebookottheseriesteemyseli as a Scottish artist but Scotland sees me as a European artist. it you want to see my work In any quantity you have to go to Europe. A gallery which makes my work known in Scotland, however, would be nice.
‘But actually I’m iairly neutral about It all. Periodically there’s these great schemes which ilounder in the morass and then get lost In the great process.’ (Beatrice Colin) lan Hamilton Elniay’s work can be seen at 100 Years oi Modern Art at the Gallery oi Modern Art until 1 Feb.
_ Culture clash
The Fruitmarket Gallery are holding a noisy exhibition of experimental art, music and poetry by Scottish artists. Ann Donald investigates.
‘Gardener's Question Time’ may seem a more appropriate setting for the terms ‘cross-fertilisation ‘ and ‘pollinating’. Yet it is precisely these processes that the participants and organisers of the 3+3+3 exhibition hope to emulate in the artistic arena when they gather three distinctly separate aspects of Scottish culture under one roof.
The brainchild of Fruitmarket director, Graeme Murray, the exhibition aims, he explains, ‘to give an overview of the
a best that is happening in Scotland’, and E features the works of three visual , artists: Ross Sinclair. Graeme Todd,
Michael Windle, three poets: Edwin Morgan, Christopher Whyte, Robert Alan Jamieson and three musicians: Simon Thoumire. Martyn Bennett and Sheena Wellington.
Drawing upon the unusual analogy of a nursery rhyme in explaining his vision of artistic unification. Murray declares, ‘there is no real reason, apart from a few bureaucrats, why the different aspects of any country’s culture should be kept isolated from each other. What we are trying to do is
; put all the pieces of Humpty Dumpty
back together again.‘
This view is clearly endorsed by journalist Murdo Macdonald. who in his introduction to the exhibition issued by the gallery says. ‘3+3+3 is a demonstration of the current ressurgence of the Scottish tradition of generalism, which depends on the notion that all intellectual and cultural activities are essentially interdependent. and that each activity is only complete when complemented by the others.’
Though Murray is keeping close to his chest exactly how he plans to mesh all three disciplines into one cohesive body of work, he promiSes that ‘a creative and spontaneous presentation will unfold’. An amalgamated event organised for 28 January, christened After Bums will take place against the background of the visual artists’ fireworks, and promises to be an evening of music and poetry that intertwines everything from the traditional Gaelic singing heritage to contemporary Techno compositions.
The poets' and musicians‘ presence will also be felt and heard throughout the exhibition’s run, with a purpose- built poetry and music bookshop. featuring an extended range of books on Scottish culture as well as the obvious works by the participants.
There is, however, another influential and international factor in the driving force behind 3+3+3; this being in its wider application as united cultural attache to Gdansk. For there are plans afoot to take the showcase over to Poland as part of a week of Scottish
T-shirts by lloss Sinclair
festivities. As Murdo Macdonald observes. ‘the exhibition suggests the way in which all national cultures have the potential to illuminate one another. ' Indeed. all nine participants were chosen not only on merit of their work but because of their obvious lack of parochialism and their experimental approach to their chosen disciplines. All three poets for example, share an involvement in translation from European languages. Musician Martyn Bennett works in a whole range of media; from music videos to piped compositions in honour of Sorley Maclean. and artist Ross Sinclair brings his DIY karaoke-style rock ’n' roll recollections to bear upon the open- mouthed visitor. The anthem Vive La Differance is to be replaced, it seems, by the anti-monoglot culture of The United Colours of Scotland. 3 +3 +3 is at the Fruitmarket Gallery from 25 January until I 9 February. Tickets are available for After Bums, an event which kicks affat 7.45pm. priced £7 (£3.50) from the F ruitmarket (m 225 2383.
ART
LISTINGS
Exhibitions are listed by city, then alphabetically by venue. Shows will be listed, provided that details reach our oitices at least ten days before publication. Art and Exhibition listings compiled by Beatrice Colin.
I ART EXPOSURE GALLERY 38 Bath Street. 331 2617. Mon—Sat 10.30am—6pm. Christmas Exhibition Sat 15-28 Jan. Work by Bryan Evans. Tim Cockbum and Liani Chrismas.
I ART GALLERY G MUSEUM, NELVINGROVE 357 3929. Mon—Sat 10am-5pm; Sun 11am—5pm. Cafe. [D]. Voluntary guides are available free of charge to conduct parties or individuals round the main galleries. Ask at the enquiry desk.
Modern Art From the Collection New permanent display. David Hockney. Bridget Riley, Alan Davie, JaSper Johns. Bruce McLean and Eduardo Paolozzi are
featured in an exhibition of P0p Art and work inspired by the heady
I BARCLAY LENNIE FINE ART 203 Bath Street, 226 5413. Mon—Fri lOam—Spm; Sun 10am—l pm.
The Jessie M. King Archive provides information on all aspects of the popular Scottish artist. Plus 19th/20th century work from stock.
I RMER RILLCLIFFE FINE ART 134 Blythswood Street. 332 4027. Mon-Fri 9.30am—5.30pm.
Contemporary Scottish Painting Until Thurs 27 Jan. Work from stock.
I OORRELL COLLECTION Pollokshaws Road. 649 7151. Mon—Sat 10am—5pm; Sun Ham-5pm. Cafe. [D].
The collection of Edwardian tycoon William Burrell. including furniture. paintings, ceramics and glass, housed in an elegant purpose-built gallery. Recorded descriptions and thermofonns available for the benefit of visually impaired visitors.
Degas Ill Bronze Until 13 Mar. Direct from Brazil, one set of the complete bronze sculptures by Degas depicting women, dancers and horses. Degas showed only one of his sculptures in his life-time, and most of these works were used as explorative studies for his paintings and pastels. They show,
however. his incredible understanding of movement and the human form.
I CCA 346—354 Sauchiehall Street. 332 7521. Tue—Sat Ham—5.30pm. Cafe. [D]. Bloodlines - Vito Allo Specchlo Until Sat 15 Jan. Owen Logan's three-year photographic project about Italian migration. The exhibition consists of two sequences, one taken in Italy and one in Britain. which record the cultural difficulties of an emigré community. In Gallery 2. a colour film taken in the 19305 of the Italian community in Scotland will complement the main show.
I CENTRE FOR DEVELOPMENTAL ARTS 218 Albion Street. 552 2822. Mon-Fri 10am—5pm.
AS Time Goes By Fri 14 Jan—ll Feb. Paintings by Margaret Murphy, an artist who has worked with Project Ability since 1989. plus a selection of objects selected by the artist from Glasgow Museums.
I CINJJNS GALLERY University of Strathclyde. 22 Richmond Street, 552 4400 ext 2682. Mon—Fri IOam-Spm; Sat noon—4 m. [D].
Earth Itness Fri 14 Jan-l2 Feb. Mythical. innovative ceramic installations by Todd Garner, an American artist based in Glasgow.
I COMPASS GALLERY 178 West Regent Street. 221 6370. Mon-Sat 10am-S.30pm.
SO The List 14—27 January 1994