VisualArt HITLIST THE BEST EXHIBITIONS
British Art Show 7 The vast showcase of the best in contemporary art makes its way north of the Border for the first time in 21 years, with work on display from Charles Avery, Sarah Lucas, Christian Marclay and Luke Fowler. CCA, Tramway and Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow, Fri 27 May–Sun 21 Aug.
Victoria Clare Bernie: Slow Water Work made during a residency at the Scottish Association for Marine Science Research Laboratory. See review, page 136. Street Level Photo Works, Glasgow, until Sun 5 Jun.
Pum Dunbar: The Play of Parts Pum Dunbar creates objects and collages that draw on by her background in philosophy. See Artbeat, right. Project Ability, Glasgow, until Sat 18 Jun. Martin Boyce The Glasgow-based artist, nominated for this year’s Turner Prize, displays his ability to create poetry through objects. See review, page 136. The Modern Institute, Glasgow, until Sat 25 Jun.
Narcissus Reflected Muscular exhibition of surrealist and contemporary artists inspired by the Greek myth of the boy who falls in love with his own reflection. See review, page 136. Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh, until Sun 26 Jun. Degree Shows Graduates from Glasgow School of Art, Edinburgh College of Art, Heriot- Watt and Dundee’s Duncan of Jordanstone show their end of term wares. See feature, page 135. See listings, page 138, for full details.
Rob Churm: The Exhaustion Hook Last chance to catch this well-received exhibition of drawings and prints from the up-and- coming Glasgow-based artist, Churm. Sorcha Dallas, Glasgow, until Fri 27 May.
Artist Rooms: August Sander The must-see Jupiter Artland The fabulous sculpture park
display of photographic portraits from across the spectrum of Weimar Germany by the father of modern photography continues. Dean Gallery, Edinburgh, until Sun 10 Jul. opens its doors again for another summer season, with work from Antony Gormley, Laura Ford and Nathan Coley. Bonnington House, Wilkieston, until Sun 18 Sep.
Microstoria Exhibition curated by post-graduate students from Edinburgh College of art exploring how myths become accepted cultural norms. Talbot Rice Gallery, Edinburgh, Sat 28 May–Sat 25 Jun.
134 THE LIST 26 May–23 Jun 2011
list.co.uk/visualart
ARTBeat PUM DUNBAR
What made you want to be an artist? I don’t think I ever wanted to be an artist. When I went to university to study philosophy I discovered just how strange and abstract a subject it is. I craved a practical and visible form of literal activity, engagement with the world of real structures rather than ideas. Philosophy is a major strand in your work. Are your inspirations mainly aesthetic or intellectual? It’s a negotiation between these two. The aesthetic is a form of synthesis, it is often completely unconscious until I can stand back and see what I am saying. My art grows out of this unconscious and a need to make manifest. The problem I had with philosophy as a 20-year-old student was that I had absolutely no way to digest ideas in their abstract form, nothing to hold onto, it drove me to despair and it was at this time I began painting.
What drew you to Project Ability? I have Asperger’s and I painted for a number of years in the Project Ability studios, which provided me with materials and a safe space where I could paint. Later in 2000 I began training as an art therapist but I didn’t complete my training, because after two years I discovered that it didn’t matter how proficient I was at understanding the landscape of psychotherapy, I needed to understand myself and learn how to have real relationships with myself, the world and others.
Can you tell us about your next project? I have been running a research project as part of my residency at Project Ability looking at the relationship between the creative process and sense of self in six adults with autism / Asperger’s. I will be releasing the findings and outcomes of this research in July. ■ Pum Dunbar: the Play of Parts, Project Ability, Glasgow, until Sat 18 Jun.