Graduates "Tay" give birthday Bridge mural makeover

Published On Fri 19 Aug 2016 by Dominic Younger

As the Tay Road Bridge enters its 50^th year, it is being given a colourful mural makeover by renowned urban artists and graduates of the University of Dundee.

Fraser Gray and Martin McGuiness have spent a month, largely under the cover of darkness, transforming the forgotten space under the bridge with bright colours and visually striking murals, having being awarded a £20,000 grant back in July.

Choosing a vivid colour palette derived from the primary and secondary colour scale – CYMK – their mural ties in both the City of Design movement as well as acknowledging Dundee’s historic title as the city of print and journalism.

The two mural artists, both Graduates in Fine Art from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, also paid homage to the designer of the Bridge, William A. Fairhurst.

Through their use of bright colours and anamorphic illusion, the pair wanted to pay tribute to all those who have had links to the bridge over the years.

Fraser said, “The best thing about being a Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design graduate is being part of the DJCAD community.

“Every time I come back to Dundee, DJCAD is always involved in something new with the city. It’s a great community and support network to be a part of.”

Alan Hutchison, Tay Road Bridge Manager overlooking the project said, “This is a great way to begin our 50th anniversary celebrations of the Bridge that has meant so much to so many people over the years.

“Fraser and Martin are doing a fantastic job and we're very much looking forward to seeing the end result.”

Working alongside technical assistant John O’Meara, the art project was funded and planned by the Tay Road Bridge Joint Board, with the help of sponsors including Fairhurst Consulting Engineers, Charles Scott and Partners and the local business Nova Alarms.

Paul Harris, Dean of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, said, “It is always a delight to see our students excel in their careers and to see it right here in Dundee as the development of the waterfront continues is a real treasure. Their work is a credit to the innovative and society-driven teaching we deliver at the University.

“Art and design that seeks to tackle our everyday perceptions is a common feature of work of our graduates. Similar art will feature at the Masters Show which opens this Friday.”

Exhibits created by 44 students on some of the UK’s most innovative and exciting postgraduate courses – Animation & VFX, Art & Humanities, Art Society & Publics, Forensic Art & Facial Identification, and Medical Art – will be on display from Friday 19th to Sunday 28th August.

The Masters Show celebrations will begin with a free and open Preview Evening on Friday 19th, August, at 6pm.

It will remain open until Sunday, 28th August. The exhibition is open from 10am-8pm on weekdays and from 10am-4pm at weekends.

For media enquiries contact:
Dominic Glasgow
Media Relations Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
Tel: +44 (0)1382 385131
Email: d.w.glasgow@dundee.ac.uk