Visual Art, Previews

Neville Rae

3 Oct 2008

For want of a little creative breathing space, new gallery partnership Sierra Metro has bravely shunned the inner-city Edinburgh gallery scene. Directors Janine Sproule and Martin Minton have appropriated a disused warehouse in the North of Edinburgh…

In the Eye of the Storm

2 Oct 2008

The first half of the last century was a period of uproar and turmoil for nearly all of Europe, but few nations went through as much tumult as Hungary. Devastated by the first world war, a Bolshevik revolution, a subsequent right wing backlash…

Autoconstruccion

2 Oct 2008

Mexico’s Abraham Cruzvillegas has spent the last six months in residency at the CCA and Cove Park developing a show that is more than just an exhibition. As well as his trademark sculptures made from whatever he has to hand (‘wool, sheep shit, chicken…

Sarah Wakeford: Light, Air and Space

2 Oct 2008

PAINTING ‘I see myself as a decorative artist,’ says Sarah Wakeford, ‘rather than one who wants to make a big political statement or anything like that. I paint things which I find attractive.’ It seems somewhat ironic that this is Wakeford’s view…

The Porcelain Project

2 Oct 2008

DANCE/VISUAL ART In the normal run of things, dancers rehearse, set-makers build and eventually the two elements come together. Not so with The Porcelain Project. The latest offering from Belgium’s Needcompany started life as an artwork by…

New Work Scotland Project 2008: Lila de Magalhaes

18 Sep 2008

VIDEO INSTALLATION Over the last nine years, autumn at the Collective has heralded an annual showcase for artists making their solo-show debuts under the wing of the gallery’s New Work Scotland Project. The first of three shows this year is by Lila…

Arches LIVE!

18 Sep 2008

Although billed as a theatre festival, the Arches’ annual celebration of performers who are ‘determined to subvert and surprise’ is just as likely to delight art-lovers, many of the events crossing the boundary between performance and installation. One…

Peak Practice

4 Sep 2008

'The Lighthouse Architecture Series is a new five-year series celebrating a range of Scottish architectural practices, which have delivered nationally, and now deserve recognition in the international market,' says Leonie Bell, programme director at…

Sister Corita: Power Up

4 Sep 2008

Anti-war art is largely a samizdat operation, in which the means of production are seized via cheaply-made DIY posters and pamphlets. In the 1960s especially, pop art was imbued with a political context often left out of more hedonistically-inclined…

Susan Collis

4 Sep 2008

This first solo installation from the Scottish artist was inspired by the building site from which the new Ingleby Gallery sprang. The viewer is confronted by what appears to be loose screws, hanging rawl plugs and an abandoned broom propped up against…

Kate Davis

Outside interests

21 Aug 2008

This is the first time that New Zealand-born, Glasgow-educated artist Kate Davis has returned for a second exhibition within the same gallery space, and she’s eager that her latest show takes advantage of the fact. Where the original show with Sorcha…

Jo Spence: Self Portraits

21 Aug 2008

She may not be a household name, but the influence of Jo Spence, who died in 1992 from complications arising from leukaemia can be found in work by the likes of Cindy Sherman and Tracey Emin. This small but powerful retrospective includes works from…

Jim Lambie: Forever Changes

14 Aug 2008

The quietest month on Glasgow’s art scene means you should pick your moment to get a little alone time with Jim Lambie’s current exhibition at the GOMA. Despite invoking the bustle of pop culture, rock gigs and glitzy local discotheques called things…

Steven Campbell

14 Aug 2008

In August of last year, one of Scotland’s most renowned contemporary painters died unexpectedly. Steven Campbell’s sadly premature death at the age of 54, caused by a ruptured appendix, was all the more untimely as he was in the midst of preparing for…

5 Questions - Chad McCail

7 Aug 2008

5 words to describe your current show: Achingly beautiful, heart-wrenching eye candy. 4 other exhibitions you want to see: The Mike Kelly retrospective in Brussels I missed; a Tony Oursler retrospective, a George Condo show . . . that’s enough wanting.

Eskimo

7 Aug 2008

Scottish artist partnership Polarcap are into puns, which is why they called the inaugural project at the Gallery at Eskmills Eskimo. There aren’t any actual representatives from the Inuit people among the 14 (mostly Scottish) artists who they…

Garlands - Falkirk

7 Aug 2008

What does the richest man in America in the early 20th Century have in common with the Cocteau Twins? Falkirk. Or more specifically, the area around Falkirk and Grangemouth, birthplace of Captain Robert Dollar, Elizabeth Fraser and Robin Guthrie. They…

Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller

31 Jul 2008

Six different, self-contained installation pieces by hugely acclaimed Canadian artist partnership Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller, which run a series of gamuts, taking in culture both high and popular, film, multimedia robotics and…

All day hip hop event

31 Jul 2008

Banksy’s subversive street art sells for millions, Snoop Dogg and Dr Dre are basically musical royalty and films such as Step Up 2 continue to popularise break-dancing and battling. Hip hop and street culture couldn’t be having more of a moment. Funny…

Chad McCail

31 Jul 2008

The well-revered Scottish artist has created a series of new screenprints exclusively for Edinburgh Printmakers. McCail’s deceptively bold, cartoonish graphics mask the social critique at the centre of the work, which focuses on subjects like education…

Frances Richardson: Playing Against Reason

Sculpture and walk-in drawings explore the gambler’s mindset

31 Jul 2008

In rationalising her new exhibition, English artist Frances Richardson finds it best to quote the wisdom of Chico Marx: ‘If I lose today, I can look forward to winning tomorrow, and if I win today, I can expect to lose tomorrow. A sure thing is no fun.…

Rosalind Lawless: Contained

31 Jul 2008

Last chance to catch the Scottish artist’s most recent series of works on paper, which continue her fascination with architecture and the spaces that buildings inhabit. These new prints overlay blocks of colour, texture and materials: charcoals…

Golden years - Tracey Emin

Edinburgh International Art Festival

22 Jul 2008

As the leading female light of Britart, Tracey Emin has been revered and rejected in equal measure. Writer and broadcaster Bidisha has a few words of scorn for the detractors and reflects on the already profound legacy she will leave behind It’s been…

No more heroes - graphic novels

Edinburgh International Book Festival

22 Jul 2008

The Book Festival is once again acknowledging the rapid expansion in graphic novels. Henry Northmore chats to a number of comic book guys (and girl) to ask what the future may hold for the superhero While graphic novels may be still be a minority…

Scavengers - Joshua Sofaer interview

Edinburgh International Art Festival

22 Jul 2008

Anneka Rice may have popularised scavenging but performance artist Joshua Sofaer is taking it to a new level. Claire Sawers asks him why he wants to trash Edinburgh Joshua Sofaer was wandering around a London art gallery recently, minding his own…

Turning point - Richard Wilson

Edinburgh International Art Festival

22 Jul 2008

Installation artist Richard Wilson is a true pioneer whether he’s experimenting with drawing, film or sculpture. Rosie Lesso hears from the man about how he loves to defy preconceptions British artist Richard Wilson has an uncanny ability to distort…

Room with a view - Ingleby Gallery

Edinburgh International Art Festival

22 Jul 2008

From much-missed nightclub space to the biggest commercial gallery outside of London, Kirstin Innes goes behind the scenes at the new Ingleby Gallery

Andrew Grassie

Edinburgh International Art Festival

22 Jul 2008

There promises to be a lot of visitors doing a double-take in front of Andrew Grassie’s paintings at Edinburgh University’s Talbot Rice Gallery this summer. While a fleeting glance might suggest that the images are photographs, Grassie actually…

Foto: Modernity in Central Europe 1918-1945

Edinburgh International Art Festival

22 Jul 2008

Between the wars, the world changed. European cities were rebuilt taller and denser than before, with new technology giving rise to an industrial and creative hub. More than half a century on, this major touring show originating from Washington’s…

Best of the rest - Edinburgh Art Festival

Edinburgh International Art Festival

22 Jul 2008

Richard Hamilton One of the key figures of British Pop Art brings us Protest Pictures, a selection of paintings, installations and collages examining his often damning portrayal of politics, movements and leaders. Inverleith House, Inverleith…

Janet Cardiff & George Bures Miller

Edinburgh International Art Festival

22 Jul 2008

Husband and wife duo Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller are quite possibly the most vibrant artistic force to have emerged from Canada in recent years. Certainly, this show will be one of the least missable exhibitions of the Festival period, as…

Quiet revolution - Scottish Impressionism

17 Jul 2008

Liz Shannon considers the enduring appeal of work by the ground-breaking French Impressionists and the Scots they inspired

Kenny Hunter: A Shout in the Street

17 Jul 2008

Following the popular success of such major works as Citizen Firefighter and Girl with Rucksack , Edinburgh-born Kenny Hunter returns to showcase his works in Scotland after a hiatus of over four years. Both new and reworked sculptural pieces, as well…

Visual Art - List picks

17 Jul 2008

Mark Neville With Fancy Pictures (which features Neville’s new 16mm film and audio-slide installation of still photographic work) the artist captures 21st century Bute in wonderful living, breathing colour. See review, page 87. Mount Stuart, Isle Of…

Altered States of Paint

3 Jul 2008

According to clichéd legend, if you can remember the 1960s, you weren’t really there. The artists taking part in Altered States of Paint at DCA who were around during that heady decade were still in their wide-eyed infancy. The ones who weren’t are…

Edinburgh Art Festival announces programme

Where the art is

3 Jul 2008

Another week, another festival launches. Hot on the heels of the Fringe, the EIF and the Edinburgh International Book Festival, relative newbie the Edinburgh Art Festival last week laid out its stall, boasting a roster of art glitterati from a 20-year…

GoMA Family Festival 2008

3 Jul 2008

FUN DAY Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow, Sat 5 Jul Messing around with paint, glue and glitter is fun at any age, so why should kids have all the fun? Although aimed primarily at 3–12-year-olds, the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) Family Festival…

Jim Dick: Fornixxation

3 Jul 2008

This exhibition presents a series of compelling paintings by Glasgow School of Art graduate Jim Dick on the theme of subconscious memories, desires and symbolic associations. The title is taken from a number of strands related to the exhibition and its…

Three Blows

3 Jul 2008

PERFORMANCE St Cecilia’s Hall, Edinburgh, Sat 5 & Sun 6 Jul As the oldest purpose-built concert hall in Scotland, St Cecilia’s Hall is in possession of unique acoustic properties. St Cecilia, of course, was the patron saint of church music, whose…

Harry Smith Anthology Remixed

19 Jun 2008

When American song-collector, artist, ethno-musicologist and experimental filmmaker Harry Smith released The Anthology Of American Folk Music in 1952, it was a labour of love which had a huge influence on the 1950s so-called Folk revival. Without this…

James Ryan: Parallax

19 Jun 2008

PAINTING Corn Exchange Gallery, Edinburgh, until Thu 17 Jul Young painter James Ryan was the recipient of the Conran Foundation Award when he graduated from the Royal College of Art in 2007, yet his work falls between the pillar of artistic intent and…

Vanity Fair Portraits

5 Jun 2008

We didn’t need Princess Diana to die to know we live in a celebrity-obsessed age. The love/hate relationship between the people and the famous is now more fraught than ever. Fame has never been so easy to come by, but we seem to take even greater joy in…

Foto: Modernity in Central Europe 1918-1945

5 Jun 2008

PHOTOGRAPHY Dean Gallery, Edinburgh, Sat 7 Jun–Sun 31 Aug The Dean’s new exhibition argues that across Central Europe between the wars the driving force of modernity in art could be found in the field of photography. Artists and amateur practitioners…

Haptic (Group show)

5 Jun 2008

MIXED MEDIA (DESIGN) The Lighthouse, Glasgow, Wed 18 Jun–Mon 29 Sep Kenya Hara, from Tokyo’s Nippon Design Museum, has suggested a new model for design: ‘Whilst affirming scientific progress, I would like to propose that we use not technology, but the…

Paul Rooney

5 Jun 2008

VIDEO The Collective Gallery, Edinburgh, until Sat 12 Jul Liverpool-based artist Paul Rooney’s two video works on show at the Collective Gallery include the newly commissioned ‘Lost High Street’ (2008), which draws on his experiences as an art student…

Three Harbours Arts Festival

22 May 2008

We’re all about the community arts festivals this week, it seems. Summer is finally coming, and we can’t think of a nicer way to spend a sunny weekend than tracking down art in unusual places. So, in East Lothian, the main premise behind the Three…

Lucy Skaer

22 May 2008

As an artist who once claimed to have secreted moth and butterfly larvae into the Old Bailey and reportedly left a scorpion and a diamond lying side by side on an Amsterdam pavement, convention is not something we would expect of Lucy Skaer. While the…

Peter Liversidge and Fischli + Weiss

22 May 2008

PHOTOGRAPHY AND FILM Ingleby Gallery, Edinburgh, Sat 31 May–Sat 7 Jun If you notice smoke coming out of Edinburgh’s Ingleby Gallery towards the end of the month, you should probably investigate before you phone the fire brigade: it might just be…

Adel Abdessemed: Trust Me

22 May 2008

A final opportunity to see this exhibition of work by the controversial video and installation artist Abdessemed. Works such as ‘Also Sprach Allah’ reflect the ways in which politics and religion infiltrate life on the street, exposing some ugly truths…

Dislocation

22 May 2008

The current exhibition at Edinburgh’s Corn Exchange Gallery pairs established Edinburgh-based artist Anna Constantinou with sculptor Thomas Winstanley, who graduated from the RCA in London last year. The two bodies of work relate to each other in the…