FESTIVAL ART
. Baeburn Creative Continuity: James ***** Stirling And Michael Wilford .fiSir Henry Raeburn, famous son of * * * igr‘EVdinburgh and artist to Scotland's Mortality inevitably robs us of our true landed gentry and city professionals, is visionaries. Consrder the fate of some of gi—perhaps best known for his painting of Scotland’s architects, whose talents are {fthe silhouetted. blackoclad skating not recognised in their own land. -=minister the Reverend Walker. That Consider the celebrated Glasgow-born {clergyman has become a James Stirling. He was 57 when he £3. merchandising dream, appearing on finished the seminal Staatsgalerie in everything from fridge magnets to Stuttgart, often cited as a consummate 1"‘erasers. example of 20th century design. ' The National Galleries' big Festival Stirling died in 1992 and this is the show - the first Raeburn retrospective first Scottish exhibition to highlight the 1; for over 40 years - gives the 7,, maverick genius. lt illustrates a diverse i’rr’opportunity to view the artist , a selection of his work with his partner, considered the finest painter to have ‘ 4.- - -- Michael Wilford, and encompasses past, come out of Scotland. "ma" 0' "abella "349°" present and future projects both home .. Born in 1756, Raeburn spent nearly all his life in Edinburgh. His paintings and abroad. -- reflect the age of the Scottish Enlightenment, during which time the Recent Festival exhibitions at RIAS , , . . , , Lowry Centre. Salford by Michael _ country s intellectuals chewed over questions on moral decency and the (Alexander Greek Thomson and Robert wmord and Partne“ merits of good society. Edinburgh, though, had in part lost its raison d’étre. Adam) might suggest a morbid '. The Act Of Union in 1702 had shifted political power from the city to fascination in perpetuating the ’dead ' London. With more than an eye for colour, Raeburn spied a market for his bloke syndrome’. This show, however Bellevue Gallery portraits. makes a tentative break with tradition ’Sheer madness,’ says Calum The sitters who populate Raeburn‘s portraits are resolutely decent rather and offers us a bold vision of Buchanan of his decision to open an than decadent. Often of dreamy eye and rosy cheek, Raeburn's subjects contemporary architecture. (Mark art gallery. 'No, I am joking, it’s always ' appear as thoughtful individuals rather than flamboyant socialites. They Cousins) been an ambition.’ An ambition which ‘ are wealthy, but not ones for showy ostentation. One figure, William I Creative Continuity Projects By has found Buchanan sacrificing the ' Glendonwyn, is shown with hand on hip and corpulent belly, as he gazes at James Stirling And Michael Wilford, ground floor of his Edinburgh home the land he owns. Yet his look is one of benevolence not lordship. RIAS (Venue I55) 229 7545, until 2 and converting it into a gallery. ’It does Even young military types, such as Sir Duncan Campbell - on loan from Oct, Mon—Fri 9am—5pm, Sat have a domestic feel about it, With the the Fine Arts Museum, San Francisco - are shown not just as splendidly lOam—4pm. fireplaces and cornices, but it looks dashing but also as wistful. romantic sorts. There is also intimacy. Lady good,’ he says.
Clerk of Penicuik rests her hand nonchalantly on her husband's shoulder. Illusions Of Absurdity Out to fill the gap between the many They are more a companionable couple than master with a decorative wife. * 1” * Edinburgh galleries which specialise in Raeburn's portraits are tasteful and for the most part. brilliant. They show Expect the unexpected in this qunky, Scottish landscapes — ’I want to get people as they believed they should be: dignified and delightful. (Susanna three—person show, where idiosyncrasy away from Scottish colours’ — and the Beaumont) is the order of the day, and nothing is more avant-garde spaces, Buchanan’s
I Raeburn, Royal Scottish Academy (Venue 64) 556 8921, until 5 Oct, Mon-Sat quite as it first seems. first show is of work by Henry 10am-6pm; Sun 71am—6pm, £4 (£2.50). Curious, humorous and refreshing, Kondracki. Edinburgh-born Kondracki’s Illusions OfAbsurdity takes a Sideways series of paintings Angel Of The City look at a diverse world of bulging are intense urban scenes frequently Ralph Steadman caption reads: ’To be a King is to suffer ankles, naturally occurring tower shot With humour. * * * human frailty on behalf of your blocks and optical illusion. ’I thought it would be good to kick Always drawn to the Qurrky and subjects.’ It’s a reprise of Gillray’s satire Take Eliza Gilchrist’s sand-filled Legs. off with Henry,’ says Buchanan. ’He's a obscene, Ralph Steadman has become on George III, and a telling comment Twenty pairs of swollen limbs huddle , name and his work catches the eye.’ something of a national institution. on the present monarchy's own together in dialogue; each one Wittin Buchanan - who also runs Just Junk Whether he is employed by Oddbins as position. Elsewhere there are some characterised through stance, pOise on Edinburgh’s Broughton Street, and their designer, collaborating With Pink surprisineg beautiful colour ' and attitude. once managed The Shore restaurant in Floyd on The Wall, illustrating Orwell's lithographs and a series of seven Jeremy Walker’s incongruous photo- Leith — plans a series of exhibitions by Animal Farm, or JllSl a political SCreen prints which depict Freud, montage of a waterfall cascading over young Scottish-based artists. Alongside cartoonist, his work gets noticed. Up Steadman’s true mentor. (Marc l a tower block is particularly strong and Kondracki’s show, Buchanan is hanging close its easy to see why. In the Lambert) Polly Verity's Stomach Unzipped work by, among others, Janie Andrews etching The Throne Room, a large arse I Ralph Stead/nan, Rogues’ Gallery animation is needless to say eye- and James Hawkins. (Susanna which looks like a face, is pOised (Venue 733) 225 5558, until 30 Aug. catching. (Fiona Shivas) Beaumont) strategically over a toilet bowl. The Tue—Sat I 7.30am-—5.30prri. I Illusions Of Absurd/ty, Out Of The I Henry Kondracki, Bel/evue Gallery, Blue, 556 5204, until 74 Aug, 55 7 7663 until Tue 2 Sep, Mon —Sat
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102 THE lIST 8~14 Aug 1997