Sixteen graduates for 2016 New Contemporaries
Published On Tue 1 Mar 2016 by Grant Hill
Fifteen graduate artists and one architect from the University of Dundee will exhibit their work at the 2016 Royal Scottish Academy New Contemporaries show, which opens in Edinburgh this weekend.
Now in its eighth year New Contemporaries is regarded as the most prestigious showcase for young artists in Scotland and this year’s exhibition will take place at the RSA Galleries on The Mound from Saturday 5th to Wednesday 30th March.
With more than £40,000 worth of monetary prizes up for grabs in addition to residency, studio and purchase prizes, the exhibition is an important initiative for Scotland’s emerging artists and architects. Presenting work across a wide range of media, the carefully curated exhibition offers a unique opportunity to see the best of Scotland’s emerging talent under one roof.
The selection was made at the 2015 degree shows by elected exhibition convenor Stuart Mackenzie RSA, with assistance from fellow academicians and representatives from the five main colleges of art. This year the six Scottish schools of architecture are represented by graduates who will work with architecture convenor Dick Cannon RSA.
Fifteen of the 52 exhibiting artists graduated last year from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design (DJCAD), part of the University. They are: Amanda Adam, Amy Bertram, Allyson Fraser, Robbie Gray & Michael Hunter, Koren Heydon-Dumbleton, David Evan Mackay, Fiona Morag Mckinnon, Lucie Rachel, Corey Reid, Bobby Sinclair, Sarah Smart, Struan Teague, Joletta Thorburn, Guy Titterington.
In addition, exhibiting architect James Basey is a graduate of the University’s School of Social Sciences.
Professor Paul Harris, Dean of Duncan of Jordanstone, said, “All the graduates chosen to exhibit are being rightly lauded for the exceptional work which wowed visitors to our Degree Show last year. Being selected as among the best of your national peer group is a huge honour but it is only part of the story and I am sure our graduates they will be among the winners when the prizes are awarded at this prestigious exhibition.”
Graeme Hutton, Professor of Architecture, added, “James is a very skilled young architect and is representative of the fact some of the country’s best architects learn their profession at the University of Dundee. This is the first step in what I am sure will be a glittering career for James."
New Contemporaries reflects the RSA’s commitment to supporting and presenting the best contemporary work in Scotland. The RSA team works closely with the artists and architects towards developing a lasting relationship in the lead up to the exhibition and beyond.
These recent graduates are given the opportunity to launch their careers at the prestigious RSA galleries by exhibiting a substantial body of work, including painting, sculpture, film making, photography, printmaking, architecture and installation. Works will be for sale and the exhibition offers patrons the opportunity to invest in Scotland’s up and coming talent.
The RSA New Contemporaries exhibition awards include the £14,000 Fleming-Wyfold Bursary and the £10,000 Glenfiddich Artists in Residence Award. Both Fleming-Wyfold bursaries awarded to date have been won by Dundee graduates, with Edward Humphrey last year following up the 2014 success of Calum and Fraser Brownlee.
In addition to the opportunities provided by the exhibition and its associated awards, a selection of exhibitors will be invited to present their work at the prestigious Fleming Collection in Mayfair, London. The exhibition is titled ‘New Scottish Artists: a Royal Scottish Academy exhibition supported by the Fleming-Wyfold Foundation’ and will provide a significant platform for new Scottish artists in London.
New Contemporaries will be open at the RSA, The Mound, Edinburgh, from 14th March to 8th April. Admission costs £4/£2.
More information is available at http://www.royalscottishacademy.org/exhibitions/rsa-new-contemporaries-2/.
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