20 June 2013

Brownlee Brothers raise a glass to late father

Image shows Fraser (left) and Calum celebrating their Graduation by toasting their father.

Brothers Fraser and Calum Brownlee today raised a glass in tribute to their late father, the well known Dundee publican Jimmy Brownlee, after graduating from the University of Dundee with first class honours degrees in Fine Art.

Fraser (23) and Calum (21) studied at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, part of the University, and won several prizes for their undergraduate work, which culminated in an acclaimed joint exhibit at the DJCAD Degree Show last month.

Their attention-grabbing work, which explored Brotherhood among other themes, saw them acknowledge their father, who died in 2012, with a tag bearing the words 'this is for our old man' burned into the ceiling of the gallery space.

Following the Graduation ceremony at the Caird Hall, the brothers and their family and friends retired to the Trades House Bar, where Fraser works, to celebrate their achievement.

'Dad would have been very proud of us and we obviously wish more than anything that he could have been with us,' said Fraser. 'He was always really supportive of our art and was very encouraging. He liked all the weird stuff we did, so that helped. It's an emotional day. We felt his absence but this is for him as well.'

With publican's blood in their veins - their grandfather built the Planet Bar in Lochee that his son was to run for many years - it is no surprise the brothers ended up pulling pints themselves to supplement their income during University.

In addition to Fraser working at the Trades, Calum is a barman at the Speedwell Bar, popularly known as 'Mennies', in Perth Road. The artists who frequent that establishment have proven a source of inspiration and advice for the brothers, who have also sold work to regulars.

Whereas Fraser attended Dundee College for two years before undertaking his course, Calum applied straight from school and, to their surprise, found themselves as both classmates and flatmates.

Originally working independently, they made the decision to collaborate ahead of their final year and have reaped the rewards with a series of accolades, including the Scottish Sculpture Workshop Residency Award, being shortlisted for the Scottish Album of the Year Art Commission, and selected for the prestigious Royal Scottish Academy New Contemporaries exhibition.

'Fraser mainly did things like painting while I worked with screenprinting and sculpture,' explained Calum. 'It was only when we looked at our work together in our flat that we saw how each complemented the other and we thought 'why haven't we worked together before?'

'We never expected to end up at art college together but it was great when we did. Then we moved in together and hated each other, to be honest. It's all worked out well though, and we will continue to make art and work together after graduating.'

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