Annual Exhibition 2001

The Royal Scottish Academy strives to create opportunities for artists in Scotland through the initiation of exhibitions, awards, scholarships and residencies. These touring shows are the result two of such opportunities

DARKSPACE

Emerging fine-art film makers in Scotland who push the boundaries of convention…
DARKSPACE is the second presentation of new film works by recent graduates from the Scottish art schools. DARKSPACE highlights the quality and breadth of practice currently being undertaken by emerging fine artist film-makers in Scotland today.

Artist & Film Titles:
Hanna Tuulikki: 'Alas, Alas, This Woeful Fate'
Ian Henderson: 'Prophet'
Jana Liptak: 'Manicure'
Laura Cooper: 'Exercise 3, Ice'
Anita Wyatt Murray: 'The Tablecloth is White'
Anna Nolan: The Day That You'll Love Me'
Gilla Brooker: 'Oh Sugar'
Rebecca Wilcox: 'This Blank Generation'
Leah Lovett: 'After the Deluge'
Steven Higgins: 'Untitled'
Neville Rae: 'one of the the things that you would be qualified to do would be the job that i am doing'
Andrew Cattanach: 'Mirror'
Mary Ferguson: 'Creation'
Ryan Siegan Smith: 'Assaulted by a spirit part 77'

TOURING TO:

28 March 2007
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art

Summer 2007
Harbour Gallery, Irvine
Various dates & galleries to be confirmed

EÒGHANN MacCOLL - EDGES / OIREAN

Eòghann MacColl is the 2005 winner of the prestigious Alastair Salvesen Travel Scholarship. This solo exhibition is the culmination of his trip around the fringe of the North Atlantic, from Shetland to the Faroe Islands, Iceland and Nova Scotia. The work is strongly based on the development of primary research drawings and this exhibition highlights this process.

A Gaelic speaker, Eòghann is interested in the influence of migrating peoples across the North Atlantic and looks particularly at issues of identity, place and continuity of culture. He explored the contrasts and clear parallels of the Nordic regions of Shetland, Faroe and Iceland and their relationships to us in Scotland, the shared ancient histories and the modern economic differences and approach to emigration as a necessity. Across the Atlantic in Nova Scotia he found the Gaelic Communities struggling to survive within contemporary Canada, alongside other communities such as the indigenous Mi’K Maq population, often facing similar problems of depopulation and unemployment. Histories separate, yet shared.

With young people still leaving the smaller communities and continuing the Scottish diaspora, our focus tends to be drawn south, towards these urban centres. Eòghann's passion for shared history, language and culture redefines these geographical perceptions in his work, placing Scotland's rich cultural heritage at the heart of it. Eoghann’s show at the RSA was linked with Refugee Week organised by the Scottish Refugee Council.

Bha mi air an rathad ceithir mìosan timcheall oirean Innis Tìle, na h-eileanan Sealtainn agus na h-eileanan Fàrach. Thainig mi dachaigh an uair sin, tha teaghlach òg agam agus chaidh mi thall thairis a’rithist gu Alba Nuadh, gu àraidh Ceap Bhreatainn, Talamh an Èisg agus St.Pierre I Michelon. Abair gur e dùthchannan a th’annta, cho breagha agus uaireannan cho iomallach, mar as àbhaist fàisg air a' Chuan Atlantaig.

An deidh mo thuras mòr thoiseach mi ag obair anns an stiùideo còmhla ri stùth. Cha robh mi deiseil airson toiseachadh a’dèanamh dealbhan. Chòrd e rium glàn a’dèanamh na pìosan seo. Mheasgaich mi rudan stèidhichte agus chleachd mi tòrr ceàird-eolas, mar collage, dealbh-loidhne is dathan. Tha mi an dòchas gu bheil iad mar seallaidhean tìre agus beagan coltach ri rudan a tha daoine a’càireadh.

Nuair a dh’fhag mo dhachaigh bha mi a’dràibhig tuath. Bha mi faireachdainn glè mhath."

Eòghann MacColl, February 2006
(Excerpts from correspondence with Colin Greenslade, RSA Exhibitions Coordinator)

About the artist
Eòghann MacColl was born i