Writing Scottish Art: Historical Reflections in Contemporary Overviews

DCA Meeting Room
Dundee Centre for Contemporary Arts
11am - 6pm
£20, including lunch and evening drinks
Booking required.

This one-day conference discusses the implications for the forming of narratives and critical distinctions by asking broadly provocative questions such as “Is there a Scottish art?” and, if so, “what are it's characteristics?” Specifically drawing upon the experience of those who have become identified with the categorisation of Scottish art through critical and historical texts it also examines the role of the writer in the development of a public understanding of the term Scottish art. This event aims to draw upon invited speaker’s experience of describing, narrating and reviewing developments in Scottish art since 1960 and places their critical evaluation within the wider national context of historical reflection. Speakers will include Malcolm Dickson, Neil Mulholland, Cordelia Oliver and Murdo Macdonald.

The conference audience will also be invited to explore and debate what are the emerging critical formulations, distinctive continuities and critical debates in Scottish art now. As Scottish art has a homegrown cultural context, a migration of its qualities and an inward bound synthesis of other context, vital questions will be: “Has devolved power had any cultural impact on the visual arts in Scotland and have consensual or diverse views formed in subsequent years?” Accepting the changing nature of Scotland is ongoing, should definitions be left unsaid? Or does the unconscious nature of art and artists act as a vehicle for an implicit national identity?

Conference fee £20 per person including lunch and evening drinks reception. To book please contact DCA box office on 01382 909252.