PREVIEWED BY RHYS FULLERTON
Last year was a fantastic one for art in (or near) Broughton, and 2015 has already started strongly. Here I preview some of what’s on offer locally over the first few months.
As always, January begins with a flourish at the Scottish National Gallery with Turner in January. The Henry Vaughan bequest has been exhibited each January for over 100 years, free of charge, as stipulated. I’ll be writing about it shortly, and recommend making time to see this wonderful exhibition.
Turner in January continues until 31 January 2015 at Scottish National Gallery (The Mound). Admission free.
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In February, as part of the Edinburgh Iranian Festival, The Sutton Gallery will host an exhibition by leading contemporary Iranian artist Hassan Meshkinfam.
Included will be landscapes of Shiraz, a number of figurative works, and a series of collages based on the poetry of Persian writer Nima Yushij.
Meshkinfam’s mixed-media artworks interpret and illustrate the works of the acclaimed Iranian poet, representing the essence of the poet’s words with his arresting, dreamlike imagery (see below).
Hassan Meshkinfam’s exhibition will run from 7–28 February at The Sutton Gallery (18a Dundas Street). Admission free.
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They start this year with Wendelien van Oldenborgh’s Beauty and the Right to the Ugly, described as ‘a cinematic experiment’.
Collective's Satellites Programme 2015 will consist of solo shows by Thomas Aitchison, France-Lise McGurn, Scott Rogers and Hardeep Pandhal and a project by Georgia Horgan (Associate Producer).
The Satellites Programme is specifically developed to facilitate artists at a pivotal point in their career through peer review, professional development, mentoring, exhibitions and events. It produced some very interesting and varied results last year and is vital for developing some of the artists of the future.
Wendelien van Oldenborgh’s Beauty and the Right to the Ugly is on from 17 January–29 March 2015 at Collective (City Observatory, Calton Hill). Admission free.
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The first show of the year, Street Life, opens on 5 February and features work by Patsy McArthur, Lucy Jones and Frank McNab. Jones, with her delicate collage pieces, and McNab, with his atmospheric work, are both new to the Union Gallery fold.
In March, Jackie Gardiner returns with a solo show featuring her fantastic seascapes (see boats right and breaking wave below).
I’m also looking forward to the return of Samantha Boyes and her incredible taxidermy. Boyes will team up with fellow taxidermist Drew Bain for an exhibition in June: definitely one not to be missed
Street Life opens at the Union Gallery (45 Broughton Street) on 5 February 2015. Admission free.
On 23 January at Whitespace, they start the year with group exhibition For Reasons Unknown to Me which will feature works by Michael Kay, Beth Carey, Sam Wood and Christina Webber.
Looking ahead to July, the Retina Photography Festival will surely be one of the highlights of the year.
For Reasons Unknown to Me will show at Whitespace (11 Gayfield Square) from 23–30 January. Admission free.
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It’s often in the most unexpected places that Broughton’s art scene surprises you. Whether it’s discovering a stunning landscape whilst practising a foreign language with a mouthful of scones at Bon Papillon, or finding an intriguing sculptural gem in McNaughtan’s Bookshop, or visiting a Northumberland Street garage to discover all sorts of amazements during the Edinburgh Art Festival.
There can’t be many places in the world that have such an eclectic mix in such a small area as Broughton. We've only scratched the surface, so please let us know what else you're seeing, enjoying and looking forward to at:
spurtle@hotmail.co.uk and @theSpurtle and Facebook.