Artists: Anna Gray, Martine Myrup, Susannah Stevens, Kate Owens with Tommy Grace
A new exhibition of recent projects by four recent artists awarded the RSA Hospitalfield Residencies – Anna Gray, Martine Myrup, Kate Owens, Susannah Stevens. This selection of works illustrates the range of media in which today’s artists realise new work. The aim of the Royal Scottish Academy residency programme is to provide emerging artists with an opportunity to explore new directions, through a residential period of study and practice of up to three months. During their time at Hospitalfield, the residents enjoy the luxury of a studio, unlimited access to the museum-like interiors and extensive grounds of the House itself, as well as the camaraderie of other art scholars from across Scotland and indeed the world.
ANNA GRAY is based in Glasgow. She used her time at Hospitalfield to investigate space and form, building site-specific stretched fabric sculptures in the towers of the house. She also investigated the rich patterning of the house interiors. She has recently exhibited at Market Gallery, Glasgow and Triangle, New York.
MARTINE MYRUP is based in Glasgow. Whilst at Hospitalfield, Martine was inspired by the abundance of flora and fauna depicted in the furniture, rugs, fixtures and fittings of the house. She developed site specific ‘interventions’ in the spaces and recorded them in photography and film. She has recently exhibited at Limousine Bull, Aberdeen and Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop as part of the Edinburgh Festival exhibition MAGAZINE.
KATE OWENS is based in Edinburgh. Kate used her time at Hospitalfield as a period of study and development, sometime in collaboration with fellow artist Tommy Grace. Works developed at Hospitalfield have already been exhibited at The Cooper Gallery, Dundee, The Collective Gallery, Edinburgh and The Tun, Edinburgh, commissioned for the Edinburgh Art Festival 2005.
SUSANNAH STEVENS is based in Edinburgh. The influence of the House’s eerie and timeless interiors can be seen in a new portfolio of photographs taken at Hospitalfield. Her interest in Memento Mori and fashion combine in a series of haunting and beautiful images.
About the Residencies:
Each year, the RSA funds three research residencies to early-career professional artists, for a period of study and practice at Hospitalfield House. Two of these residencies are funded by the RSA Sir William Gillies Bequest and the third by the Friends of the RSA. In 2004 and 2005 the RSA collaborated with the Scottish Arts Council who gave a further grant of £5,000 to the residents to cover materials and investigate new work.
‘The Scottish Arts Council is pleased that such a partnership with the Royal Scottish Academy enables a shared investment in the creative development of Scotland’s visual artists. The bursary given by the Scottish Arts Council enables artists to buy materials and equipment, and importantly, to take the time to develop their creative practice within the unique environment offered by Hospitalfield.’
Wendy Law, Visual Arts Officer, Scottish Arts Council
The Sir Patrick Allan Fraser of Hospitalfield House, Arbroath, was left to the Hospitalfield Trust as an art school and to further the development and support of art in Scotland. It has been of primary importance to the development of Scottish Art throughout the 20th Century and has influenced many a well-kent face over the years. Artists such as Ian Fleming, Joan Eardley, Colquhoun and MacBryde, James Cowie, Will Maclean, Joyce W Cairns, Callum Innes and Wendy McMurdo have all spent time at Hospitalfield.
