RSA New Contemporaries, Royal Scottish Academy , Edinburgh
February 28th 2020
This was an enormous exhibition showcasing work from the final exhibitions of students from all of the art schools and colleges in Scotland – I had not realized that there were so many!
As with any exhibition on this scale and, given the youth of the exhibitors, there was a vast range of material – some striking and working very well, others…well, rather less so or, even worse, just not very interesting. It seemed that with 3D work (not sure of ‘sculpture’ is the right term) use of found materials was very prevalent – sometimes dully so. I felt that this sort of art was the least successful of all types seen as in too many cases there was a sense of randomness about the contents which a clever title and a length explanation really did nothing to illuminate. At times I even felt there was a degree of laziness about the concept – and too many pieces, both of this sort and in other genres and materials, seemed to be more an idea expressed in words rather than a coherent artistic expression. Perhaps this is a very traditional view, but I do think that a piece of art should not be solely reliant on the explanation/title/words that accompany it. These may add to and illuminate what is there but the work itself I feel has to initially communicate something – and then perhaps, with the words/title/explanation, is further illuminated. Too many pieces were idea-heavy and execution-disappointing.
Interestingly there was virtually no representational art there although one notable exception was Hugo Harris and his exploration of the human body and its poses using disconcertingly realistic wax and segments of the body which were very effective in suggesting the sheer heavy physicality of the human frame. I may have missed some however. but there were a number of pieces where manipulation of colour and painting techniques were very impressive and exciting – in pieces such as these there was a sense of exuberance and joy which was exciting and very pleasurable. I also enjoyed the installation of a body shape on a hospital bed with plants related to healing and medicine growing around and through it. With the constant heart monitor beeping this made a thought-provoking display reflecting nature and technology and growth and healing and change that led one to linger with it – and was a good example of how an idea can be made fascinating and be very well expressed in artistic form that has considerable emotional power.
A great experience then.