Writers’ Museum, 10 November 2018 – 12 May 2019, free admission
Storyworlds is a new exhibition to celebrate the Year of Young People 2018 which gives budding young artists the opportunity to exhibit their work for the first time. The exhibition is made up of paper sculptures, inspired by the Writers’ Museum and works of Scottish Literature to create delicate worlds that bring these stories and the images they inspire to life.
Working with the Museums & Galleries Edinburgh Learning and Programmes Team, as well as artist Tessa Asquith-Lamb, 12 senior students have each selected their own text from which to create their Storyworld. Following six weeks of workshops, the finished Storyworlds will be exhibited each in their own glass dome for six months, alongside pieces from Tessa Asquith-Lamb. As part of the Year of Young People 2018, this is an incredible opportunity for young art students to display their work publicly, develop new skills and explore Scotland’s incredible history of literary tradition.
The diversity within the texts chosen by the young artists injects a modern twist into The Writers’ Museum, bringing a new perspective to the Scottish literary tradition in the true spirit of the Year of Young People 2018. Traditional Scottish ballads stand alongside modern Scottish indie music, and popular Higher English texts alongside novels and poetry published within the 2000s.
The texts which have inspired these Storyworlds are The Panopticon by Jenni Fagan, The Cone Gatherers by Robin Jenkins, Dividing Line by J.O Morgan, The Woodpile by Frightened Rabbit, Harry Potter by JK Rowling, Two Trees by Don Patterson, Visiting Hour by Norman MacCaig, Trio by Edwin Morgan, Basking Shark? By Norman MacCaig, Treasure Island by R.L Stevenson, The Twa Corbies, writer unknown, and The Mermaid and the Sailors by Claire Askew.
On selecting The Woodpile, Eva Williamson said:
Creating this piece has been a way of celebrating and honouring the music of Scott Hutchison, and an opportunity to process emotions through art.
For Mhari Dickie, working on Twa Corbies, said:
Paper cutting is a hobby and technique I previously used in higher art. I chose a poem that was visually striking to create this Storyworld. I intend to study Architecture and the skills learned here are directly referential, and will benefit us all moving forward.
Margaret Findlay, Learning and Programmes Manager with Museums & Galleries Edinburgh said:
It has been a privilege to work with such an enthusiastic group of senior students and watch their work develop. It is important that we take part in and support Scotland’s themed years led by VisitScotland, and this is our second successful project this year to celebrate the Year of Young People 2018. Learning and engagement is very much at the heart of what we do in Edinburgh Museums & Galleries, and it has been a breath of fresh air to get such a contemporary perspective on the Writers’ Museum. The fragility of the paper sculptures will be beautifully juxtaposed against the historical interior of the Writers’ Museum.