A striking series of sculptures marking the final major work of one of Scotland’s greatest artists has just been acquired by the University of Aberdeen and is being unveiled in Aberdeen Art Gallery later today (December 14).
Column to Drum is the work of Ian Hamilton Finlay - an acclaimed poet, writer, artist, philosopher and gardener, who lived and worked for 40 years at Little Sparta in the Pentland Hills. It was purchased by the University with the help of a grant from The Art Fund, the UK’s leading independent art charity.
From his self-imposed isolation, Bahamas-born Finlay emerged as one of the most original conceptual artists of his time. Today he is internationally acclaimed as one of the leading artists of his generation. The sandstone piece combines Finlay’s favourite themes – classicism and the French Revolution
Professor C Duncan Rice, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen, said: “Universities have a major role to play in the development of the cultural life of our communities.
“Column to Drum is a very important piece of work and our purchase of it is the latest attempt by the University of Aberdeen to further enhance the cultural life of our community whilst also supporting contemporary Scottish art.”
While the permanent home of the sculpture will be in King’s College, close collaboration with Aberdeen City Council has enabled it to be shown initially in Aberdeen Art Gallery.
Jennifer Melville, Keeper of Fine Art at Aberdeen Art Gallery, said: “We are delighted to be able to display this work until it finds a permanent home at the University. We shall be displaying it along with our own recent purchase by Ian Hamilton Finlay, Les Femmes de la Revolution, which also addresses one of Finlay’s favourite subjects: The French Revolution.”
David Barrie, Director of The Art Fund, added: “Ian Hamilton Finlay is undoubtedly one of Scotland’s most interesting and challenging artists, and we are really pleased to have helped the University of Aberdeen acquire his last major work. Column to Drum is quintessential Finlay, using a simple visual idea to represent his own idiosyncratic ideas about the relationship between art and politics.”
Column to Drum is the second major work purchased by the University in the last 12 months. Youth with Split Apple, by award-winning Scottish artist Kenny Hunter, commemorated the 500th anniversary of the arrival of the very first students at King's College.
The bronze reclining statue was installed outside the New King’s building in Old Aberdeen last September. These and other purchases have been guided by the University’s Art Advisory Committee which draws together expertise from throughout the University and City.