Banksy Deconstructs at First Exhibition Glasgow

He deconstructs art and is radical, surprising. Dismaland, anti-war, 

 

It’s easy to understand Banksy’s desire to have this first major show of his 25 years of art making at the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) Glasgow (once the Royal Exchange) with the coned Duke of Wellington proudly outside – coned comically now for 40 years after the council gave up trying to remove the cone.

 

Glasgow is a challenging and vibrant place – a place of a multitude of music venues, both big and small, where impressive stone architecture sits side by side with glass modernism, acute poverty and impressive art and architecture – tall Rennie Mackintosh design, merchant city venues, westend wealth, Clyde ships (now mostly silent like past ghosts) and swaying walkways that connect north and south Glasgow; the meetings and protests at George Square, down Ingram street and along Nelson Mandela place.

 

Glasgow is very much about its people and street art makes sense in a city that won’t be silent.

We first enter a dark, enclosed space with flickering lights, sounds and movement to represent street life – rather than the usual quiet of art galleries. There’s Banksy’s anti-war images – throwing flowers and hearts. There are many images of children. 

For Brexit - 'VOTE LOVE'

Banksy early on realised  the power art activism and art as protest can make. He eventually realised that the backgrounds didn't matter on the walls, where space played an important part too.

It was important to be seen and out on the ordinary city streets. To express how we are lost at times and our inhumanity.

It's also a protest to art elitism. Towards the end of the exhibit he shows us how he shredded his girl with a heart image, after a bidder at Sotheby's bid 750K! One thing missing after occurs though - where is nature except in his bunch of flowers? 

Hope in humanity sits alongside despair here – can we forge new pathways? Often surprising, questioning, 

“The purpose of art is not to hold up a mirror to life but to take a hammer to challenge it"

Nicola Benedetti First Scots Director of Edinburgh Festival!

 

Nicola Benedetti Celtic Connections 2012

Classical violinist Nicola Benedetti has been appointed as the new director of the Edinburgh festival – the first Scot and the first woman, since its start after the second world war in 1947!

 

The festival prepares to celebrate its 75^th anniversary next year 2023 and event director Linehan (previous director) wants the event to be a “huge civic event from celebration to requiem.” Russian Conductor Velery Gergieu, (as a result of incursion and war on Ukraine by Russia) has been asked to resign as honorary president by the festival  - Edinburgh is twinned with Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital     https://www.eif.co.uk

 

I first saw Benedetti perform at the opening concert of Celtic Connections in 2012. She had been collaborating for an album with Shetland fiddler Ali Bain and composer Phil Cunningham Her playing was magical and elevating. 

Benedetti began violin at age four. At 10 she began studying ta the Yehudi school, Surrey. She sat Grade 8 at age nine. Benedetti has performed with the RSNO, Scottish opera, LSO, Scottish chamber orchestra, London Sinfonia. 

Awards, Young BBC Musician 2004, member Royal Society Edinburgh 2017. (MBE 2013, OBE 2019.

 

Grammy 2020 for Marsalis violin concerto, fiddle dance suite. 

Benedetti was given a 1717 Sradavinsky by LSO board member Jonathan Moulds. 

 

Nicola Benedetti is an arts educator and ambassador for classical music. She improves the lives of deprived children through Sistema Scotland and the Big Noise orchestra. She enjoys exploring new music and challenging new ideas. 

https://www.nicolabenedetti.co.uk

First Lockdown anniversary Day of Reflection

We are alone with our thoughts and also not alone. We are all in this together.  The world has closed in on us.  Its been hard to comprehend the scale of this deadly virus, or where it all will lead us.  

Its been an opportunity too, to reassess what really matters in our lives. The daily walks have helped a great deal and reconnecting and appreciating nature in a new way, as we never did before. There’s been the pain of missing family and the distance between us, and wondering when we can meet again. If there will be a day we can hug again.

 

There’s been the zoom chats to keep contact alive. There’s been anger at the stupidity and incompetence of leaders, who pretend they are following the science.

And we are not alone we know the entire world is suffering and fighting this virus too. We must figure it together.

Richard Holloway speech to Scottish Parliament

He quoted Albert Camus -There are more things to admire than despair over. He expressed his gratitude for all the healers – the Doctors and nurses and scientists and care workers, who refused to bow to Covid. Gratitude for those who have guided us through the darkest days.

Another virus is political authoritarianism, which is spreading across the world and has killed the life of freedom (Isaac Berlin) Disagreements are vital – they are rival versions of good, allowing disagreements to keep us free. Democracy is hard, he said and he expressed gratitude to the Scottish parliament for allowing disagreements to flourish. 

 

 

There are many people we need to thank – Nicola Sturgeon and her hard work and consistent messaging that kept us going every day. The health adviser, particularly Jason Leith and Linda Bauld

Those who kept vital services going, particularly the health workers who were often stretched beyond their very limits. 

The scientists who strove so hard to develop safe vaccines. And particularly the children and young people who’ve had their lives disrupted. 

Empty Princes street Edinburgh

Some of us have suffered more than others. And we must remember all who have lost loved ones and not be numb to the dreadful death totals – with the UK the highest number.

 

We have become numb to certain feelings, not in a good way: because we must learn lessons for the future. At times we may feel in a time loop! We must understand its now essential to reduce pollution, reduce dairy and meat intake, reduce unnecessary travel, and buy local. And understand economic growth is not all its made up to be. There are other routes to leading productive and healthy lives. We must be prepared for any future pandemic (and there will be one) – and next time take swift action which protect lives and economies - and shut borders. 

People put rainbows and other messages in their front windows. 

One of the best memories from the first Lockdown last year was the wonderful clear air, the quiet skies, less noise pollution and the perfect blossom. I thought, this was what the world was like once, before all the pollution, the unnecessary air travel, the dirty chemicals and pesticides spewed into our rivers, the fumes that kill in our air. Instead we were able to hear the enriching bird song.