Cabbages
in an Orchard; The formers and forms of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Graham
Fagen
in an Orchard; The formers and forms of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Graham
Fagen
28 June – 29 August 2014, Reid Gallery, Reid Building The Glasgow School of Art
“The aim is to create an exhibition that considers form and place,
transcending my roots in the New Town and Art School.”
Graham Fagen
In this specially commissioned exhibition GSA alumnus and Scotland + Venice
2015 artist Graham Fagen shows new work commissioned specially for The Glasgow School of Art which was inspired
by Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s own student work. Shown alongside Fagen’s work are three original Mackintosh watercolours from the GSA archive which survived the recent fire completely unscathed. The exhibition was previewed
2015 artist Graham Fagen shows new work commissioned specially for The Glasgow School of Art which was inspired
by Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s own student work. Shown alongside Fagen’s work are three original Mackintosh watercolours from the GSA archive which survived the recent fire completely unscathed. The exhibition was previewed
“The cabbages in this orchard are different- they have stood through a
severe winter of
severe winter of
snow and hail, and frost, and thunder: they have stood through
a spring lasting
a spring lasting
three months, and raining all the time, and before they had
the time to dry in an
the time to dry in an
ordinary way the sun came out with dazzling ferocity – yet
still they stand”,
still they stand”,
Charles Rennie Mackintosh, on Cabbages in an
Orchard watercolour,
Orchard watercolour,
The Magazine, 1894.
These
poignant words are from the handwritten description accompanying Charles Rennie
Mackintosh’s student work Cabbages in an Orchard, from The Magazine, a
publication held in the GSA Archives and Collections which has formed the
inspiration for a body of new work by Graham Fagen for The Glasgow School of
Art.
poignant words are from the handwritten description accompanying Charles Rennie
Mackintosh’s student work Cabbages in an Orchard, from The Magazine, a
publication held in the GSA Archives and Collections which has formed the
inspiration for a body of new work by Graham Fagen for The Glasgow School of
Art.
|
| Image: Graham Fagen, Scheme for Conscience (detail), 2014 |
Graham
Fagen was invited by The Glasgow School of Art Exhibitions Department to research Charles
Rennie Mackintosh through the GSA Archives & Collections Centre and to create
a solo exhibition of new work especially for the GSA. The resulting work was unveiled today, 27 June 2014, in the Reid
Gallery on the ground floor of the new Reid building.
Fagen was invited by The Glasgow School of Art Exhibitions Department to research Charles
Rennie Mackintosh through the GSA Archives & Collections Centre and to create
a solo exhibition of new work especially for the GSA. The resulting work was unveiled today, 27 June 2014, in the Reid
Gallery on the ground floor of the new Reid building.
In order to look at the common ground
between his own practice and that of Charles Rennie Mackintosh Fagen researched
Mackintosh’s early, formative works, which explore nature and symbolism. The
exhibition takes its title, Cabbages in an Orchard, from one of Charles
Rennie Mackintosh’s watercolour works from the DIY publication he made whilst a
student, with his contemporaries, called ‘The Magazine’ (http://www.gsathemagazine.net/browse/index.php ).
between his own practice and that of Charles Rennie Mackintosh Fagen researched
Mackintosh’s early, formative works, which explore nature and symbolism. The
exhibition takes its title, Cabbages in an Orchard, from one of Charles
Rennie Mackintosh’s watercolour works from the DIY publication he made whilst a
student, with his contemporaries, called ‘The Magazine’ (http://www.gsathemagazine.net/browse/index.php ).
|
| Image: Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Cabbages in an Orchard |
Graham
Fagen today unveiled new watercolours, sculptures and photographs which were shown alongside three of
Mackintosh’s early watercolours from ‘The
Magazine’– Cabbages in an Orchard (1894), Tree of Influence (1896) and Tree of Personal Effort (1896) which represent the beginnings of what formed
Mackintosh and his ways of working.
Fagen today unveiled new watercolours, sculptures and photographs which were shown alongside three of
Mackintosh’s early watercolours from ‘The
Magazine’– Cabbages in an Orchard (1894), Tree of Influence (1896) and Tree of Personal Effort (1896) which represent the beginnings of what formed
Mackintosh and his ways of working.
Images: Graham Fagen, Scheme for Nature (2014) and Charles Rennie Mackintosh Tree
of Personal Effort (1896) The Magazine
of Personal Effort (1896) The Magazine
Fagen has also made a series of just over 60
watercolours, called Scheme for Consciousness (2014). Far from traditional
portraiture, these haunting images depict the shape and size of Fagen’s teeth
as he felt them while probing the interior of his mouth with his tongue. These
works depict how different an experience the inside can feel to how people perceive
from the outside.
watercolours, called Scheme for Consciousness (2014). Far from traditional
portraiture, these haunting images depict the shape and size of Fagen’s teeth
as he felt them while probing the interior of his mouth with his tongue. These
works depict how different an experience the inside can feel to how people perceive
from the outside.
Alongside these works Fagen is also showing a series of prints of housing schemes from a Scottish New Town, to represent the origins and place that has partly formed him: “I was (partly) brought up in a New Town and (partly) educated in the Glasgow School of Art Mackintosh building. Both these experiences have resulted in form and place being key influences on my work as an artist.”
A new
publication, ‘Cabbages in an Orchard’, inspired by the aesthetic of ‘The
Magazine’ will be available, with images of all works in the exhibition and
essays by Graham Fagen and Johnny Rodger.
publication, ‘Cabbages in an Orchard’, inspired by the aesthetic of ‘The
Magazine’ will be available, with images of all works in the exhibition and
essays by Graham Fagen and Johnny Rodger.
Ends
27 June
2014
27 June
2014
Listing
28 June – 29 August
2014
2014
Monday – Saturday,
11am – 5pm; Sunday 11am – 4pm
11am – 5pm; Sunday 11am – 4pm
Reid Gallery, Reid
Building, The Glasgow School of Art, 164 Renfrew Street, Glasgow G3 6RF
Building, The Glasgow School of Art, 164 Renfrew Street, Glasgow G3 6RF
Cabbages
in an Orchard; The formers and forms of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Graham
Fagen
in an Orchard; The formers and forms of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Graham
Fagen
This commission sees specially commissioned, new work by GSA alumnus and Scotland + Venice
2015 artist Graham Fagen, inspired
by Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s student work, shown alongside rarely seen Mackintosh watercolours
2015 artist Graham Fagen, inspired
by Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s student work, shown alongside rarely seen Mackintosh watercolours
Further information: www.gsa.ac.uk/exhibitions
Notes for Editors
GENERATION
GENERATION is a programme across Scotland led
by National Galleries and Glasgow Life, aiming to tell the story of 25 years of
contemporary art in Scotland, to a local and visiting audience for the Commonwealth
Games. The GSA is part of this programme with this project.
by National Galleries and Glasgow Life, aiming to tell the story of 25 years of
contemporary art in Scotland, to a local and visiting audience for the Commonwealth
Games. The GSA is part of this programme with this project.
Cabbages in an Orchard funders:
Supported by Creative Scotland GENERATION
Associate Partners Fund, The Glasgow School of Art, The Carnegie Trust
for the Universities of Scotland and Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and
Design.
Associate Partners Fund, The Glasgow School of Art, The Carnegie Trust
for the Universities of Scotland and Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and
Design.