VisualArt HITLIST THE BEST EXHIBITIONS
Creative Mackintosh Festival The celebration of Glasgow’s most famous artist continues, with exhibitions, walking tours and workshops encouraging participants to unleash their creativity as well as performances by the likes of Liz Lochhead and Mischief La-Bas (pictured) and the monologue When the Moon was Overhead. Various venues, Glasgow, until Sun 28 Oct.
The Clipperton Project Last chance to catch this fascinating group show featuring the work of artists who visited the remote island in the Pacii c. Glasgow Sculpture Studios, until Sat 27 Oct.
Andrew Kerr: Delmess Was Charged Enjoyable exhibition of acrylic works on paper and sculptures by the Glasgow-based artist. See review, page 122. The Modern Institute, Glasgow, until Sat 20 Oct. Solastalgia A new series of paintings from Glasgow-based artist Gordon Picken created for the space at the Old Ambulance Depot. See Artbeat, right. Old Ambulance Depot, Edinburgh, Fri 19 Oct–Mon 29 Oct.
Galápagos Group exhibition of work by artists who have travelled to the Galápagos archipelago over the past i ve years, including Marcus Coates and Jeremy Deller. Reviewed next issue. Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh, Fri 2 Nov–Sun 13 Jan. Sonica Inaugural ten-day programme of ‘sonic art for the visually minded’ curated by Glasgow- based Cryptic, the music-theatre company known for bridging art forms. See preview, page 122. Various venues, Glasgow, Thu 8 Nov– Sun 18 Nov.
Ian Hamilton Finlay If you haven’t seen this wonderful retrospective of work by the late Edinburgh artist, writer and sculptor, get along to the Ingleby before it’s too late. Ingleby Gallery, Edinburgh, until Sat 27 Oct.
Dexter Sinister: Identity Three- screened video installation at Tramway by the design duo, which probes the weird overlap between the cultural and corporate worlds. See review, page 122. Tramway, Glasgow, until Sun 28 Oct.
Rembrandt and the Passion A series of paintings of the Passion by the Dutch master Rembrandt van Rijn, including the famous ‘Entombment Sketch’. Reviewed next issue. Hunterian Gallery, Glasgow, until Sun 2 Dec.
Kevin Harman: When a tree falls New work by the Edinburgh College of Art graduate whose sculptures mine the everyday to discover the extraordinary. Reviewed next issue. Ingleby Gallery, Edinburgh, Sat 3 Nov–Sat 22 Dec.
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ARTBeat GORDON PICKEN
What was the i rst exhibition you went to see? In the 1970s, my mother took me to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow and pointed out Salvador Dali’s ‘Christ of St John of the Cross’. A controversial painting in its day, it was attacked several years before. Back then I was more interested in looking for the slash marks than the painting itself. What was your i rst paid job as an artist? Straight after leaving Art School I was commissioned by a i rm of architects to paint murals in Spain. It was a difi cult time: all that sun, sea and raw sienna . . .
What kind of music do you listen to while working? I try to stick to instrumentals or anything that doesn’t have lyrics. Singing in a foreign language seems to be okay. Cesaria Evora, Salif Keita work well, though ambient dub works best, especially Bill Laswell. What are the best things about opening nights? It’s a chance for people to check out what I’ve been doing. And with the way I work, it’s often the i rst chance for me to see what I’ve been doing.
Do you read reviews of your work? Sometimes but always from behind the couch with a cushion over my eyes. Which living artist should be better known than they currently are? Allan Ramsay, not the 18th century portrait painter, but the Leith-born i gurative artist now resident in London.
What has been your career highlight? Showing in the Old Ambulance Depot, of course.
What advice would you give to your younger self? Don’t listen to advice from your elders, keep painting and make your own mistakes. ■ Gordon Picken: Solastalgia, the Old Ambulance Depot, Edinburgh, Fri 19–Mon 29 Oct.
18 Oct–15 Nov 2012 THE LIST 121