“New Glasgow
Boy” donation from Gregory’s Girl director
Boy” donation from Gregory’s Girl director
Acclaimed
film director, Bill Forsyth, donates Fake
Ophelia, a work by “his pal”, the late Steven Campbell, to the GSA.
film director, Bill Forsyth, donates Fake
Ophelia, a work by “his pal”, the late Steven Campbell, to the GSA.
Fake Ophelia, (1991) a collage (1735mm x 1195mm) by the late Steven
Campbell donated to
Campbell donated to
the GSA by his friend, BAFTA-award winning film director, Bill Forsyth.
The
BAFTA winning film director Bill Forsyth and his partner Moira Wylie have
donated a work by the late Steven Campbell to The Glasgow School of Art, it was
announced today 14 August 2015. Campbell, who died at the tragically young age
of 54 in 2007, was the leading figure in the high profile group of GSA
graduates known collectively as The New Glasgow Boys. A large collage on
canvas, Fake Ophelia is formed of
paint, textiles, string, wallpaper and paper cut work. It was made by Campbell
in 1991 to form part of Pinocchio’s
Present an exhibition staged at The Talbot Rice Gallery in Edinburgh in
1993. The work has been hung in the GSA library where current students from
across all disciplines are able to see and enjoy it.
BAFTA winning film director Bill Forsyth and his partner Moira Wylie have
donated a work by the late Steven Campbell to The Glasgow School of Art, it was
announced today 14 August 2015. Campbell, who died at the tragically young age
of 54 in 2007, was the leading figure in the high profile group of GSA
graduates known collectively as The New Glasgow Boys. A large collage on
canvas, Fake Ophelia is formed of
paint, textiles, string, wallpaper and paper cut work. It was made by Campbell
in 1991 to form part of Pinocchio’s
Present an exhibition staged at The Talbot Rice Gallery in Edinburgh in
1993. The work has been hung in the GSA library where current students from
across all disciplines are able to see and enjoy it.
“We are grateful to Bill and Moira for this generous
donation to the GSA’s Archives and Collections,”
says Alison Stevenson, Head of Learning Resources at The Glasgow School of Art.
“Steven was an incredibly talented artist
whose life was cut tragically short. We are delighted to be able to add Fake
Ophelia to our rich collection of works by GSA graduates.”
donation to the GSA’s Archives and Collections,”
says Alison Stevenson, Head of Learning Resources at The Glasgow School of Art.
“Steven was an incredibly talented artist
whose life was cut tragically short. We are delighted to be able to add Fake
Ophelia to our rich collection of works by GSA graduates.”
The
work was made at a particularly challenging period in the artist’s life having
lost his brother and being sued for breach of contract by his New York
ex-dealers on the same day. In an interview in 1993 with the former art critic
of the Glasgow Herald, Clare Henry, whose papers are held in the GSA Archives &
Collections, the painter said: ‘ “The misery was incredible.” Sticking string till his fingers bled was therapy, ”I didn’t have to think about anything.” Campbell’s
kitchen range bears witness to these months. Two multi-coloured metal rods over the Aga are forever stained by the
string which he boiled up in pans of dye and
hung over to dry. These threads, diligently
aligned, create the flesh-toned torsos of Fake
Ophelia…’
work was made at a particularly challenging period in the artist’s life having
lost his brother and being sued for breach of contract by his New York
ex-dealers on the same day. In an interview in 1993 with the former art critic
of the Glasgow Herald, Clare Henry, whose papers are held in the GSA Archives &
Collections, the painter said: ‘ “The misery was incredible.” Sticking string till his fingers bled was therapy, ”I didn’t have to think about anything.” Campbell’s
kitchen range bears witness to these months. Two multi-coloured metal rods over the Aga are forever stained by the
string which he boiled up in pans of dye and
hung over to dry. These threads, diligently
aligned, create the flesh-toned torsos of Fake
Ophelia…’
Campbell,
who was born in 1953, came to the GSA as a mature student studying Drawing
& Painting. He graduated in 1982 with a Fulbright Scholarship which he used
to travel to New York. His first solo show was held at the Barbara Toll Gallery
the following year. Campbell returned to live in Glasgow in 1986, and emerged
as the leading figure of the group of Scottish figurative painters known
collectively as ‘The New Glasgow Boys’. The group consisted of Campbell
alongside fellow GSA alumni Ken Currie, Peter Howson and Adrian Wiszniewski.
who was born in 1953, came to the GSA as a mature student studying Drawing
& Painting. He graduated in 1982 with a Fulbright Scholarship which he used
to travel to New York. His first solo show was held at the Barbara Toll Gallery
the following year. Campbell returned to live in Glasgow in 1986, and emerged
as the leading figure of the group of Scottish figurative painters known
collectively as ‘The New Glasgow Boys’. The group consisted of Campbell
alongside fellow GSA alumni Ken Currie, Peter Howson and Adrian Wiszniewski.
Campbell’s
distinctive painting style often has a surreal and mysterious quality, as well
as a strong literary element and recurring motifs such as skulls, birds, and
the paisley pattern. His work is held in leading collections including The Tate
and the National Galleries of Scotland. His last major exhibition was The Caravan Club, at the Talbot Rice
Gallery in 2002.
distinctive painting style often has a surreal and mysterious quality, as well
as a strong literary element and recurring motifs such as skulls, birds, and
the paisley pattern. His work is held in leading collections including The Tate
and the National Galleries of Scotland. His last major exhibition was The Caravan Club, at the Talbot Rice
Gallery in 2002.
Bill
Forsyth is a BAFTA Awarding winning film maker known widely for his films including
Gregory’s Girl (1981 Comfort and Joy (1984) and Local Hero (1983), in which
another celebrated GSA alumnus, Peter Capaldi, first came to public attention.
Forsyth is a BAFTA Awarding winning film maker known widely for his films including
Gregory’s Girl (1981 Comfort and Joy (1984) and Local Hero (1983), in which
another celebrated GSA alumnus, Peter Capaldi, first came to public attention.
Campbell
and Forsyth had met in the 1980s and become fishing buddies. In the 1990s, when
approached to make a work of a “famous Scot,” for the Scottish National
Portrait Gallery, Campbell selected to paint Forsyth saying, “Bill is the only famous person I know and a
pal.” The portrait, Being Human, was unveiled in 1995. Named after
Forsyth’s film which starred the late Robin Williams, it features Bill Forsyth with
two of his children.
and Forsyth had met in the 1980s and become fishing buddies. In the 1990s, when
approached to make a work of a “famous Scot,” for the Scottish National
Portrait Gallery, Campbell selected to paint Forsyth saying, “Bill is the only famous person I know and a
pal.” The portrait, Being Human, was unveiled in 1995. Named after
Forsyth’s film which starred the late Robin Williams, it features Bill Forsyth with
two of his children.
Ends
Further information:
Lesley Booth
0779 941 4474