Towards a radical picturesque.

For the Northern City exhibition -organised by the Lighthouse, Glasgow -we made a pictorial survey of Edinburgh presented in a red leatherbound booklet with marble paper dressing and animated with a series of panoramic images as a mixture of old engravings and contemporary overlays. Both the book cover and the composite images are reminiscent of the famous Red Books by the 18th century landscape architect Humphrey Repton. The physical aspects of Edinburgh such as coast, valleys and hills form an important reference as representing ‘the long-time span’ set against the ‘delirious experience’ of the city in state of flux. Edinburgh is primarily known for its Old Town and New Town, which were both built as response to a specific topography, By Contrast, the No Town sprawl of the urban periphery of suburbs, supermarkets, business parks, estate and city bypass lacks any reference to its setting, creating a town of no distinction. The combination of images and quotations diagnoses Edinburgh as a strange case of split duality. Each panoramic view is accompanied by quotations from various thinkers, commentators and writers including Robert Lous Stevenson, Patrick Geddes, Voltaire, Irvine Welsh, David Hume and Ian Rankin. One of the proposals was to create a national natural monument out of Arthur’s Seat representing Scotland’s last remaining wilderness. Wild beats and wolves will be reintroduced amongst clones of Dolly the Sheep providing a thrill of terror and sublime.

The book was displayed as a part of a cabinet of curiosities installation based upon the painting of Saint Jerome in his study by Antonello da Messina (1456-60). Visitors are invited to take Jerome’s position where they can read the leather-bound book. The shelves of the study display a series of artefacts such as weird architectural models, samples of rocks, books and picture frames. The study and book offer a space for reflection and dialogue.

The exhibition which also contained installations by Mettis Architects (Mark Dorian + Adrian Hawker and artist Victoria Clare Bernie), Artist Nathan Coley, Artists Dalziel + Scullion and Sutherland Hussey Architects was displayed at the Lighthouse Glasgow, the Scottish Parliament Edinburgh and in Florence.