Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Sketch and the city
Boss who bought huge ink artwork reveals plans
A CARE home owner who purchased an enormous ink sketch of Dundee has said he wants to keep it on public display — and may even loan it to the V&A.
Balhousie Care boss Tony Banks said he chose to pay a “substantial sum” for Carl Lavia’s aerial drawing of Dundee in order to keep it in the city, and has no intention of hiding it away.
Instead, he has said it could stay in its current home at The McManus for longer than the initially agreed loan period of six months.
And he hinted that he may even show it elsewhere in the city.
He said: “I’m a proud Dundonian and I’m very proud to see the drawing in The McManus.
“If they want to extend the loan I am happy to speak to them, but I may even lend it to the V&A.
“I’ve never understood why private art collectors hide things away — we aren’t like Gollum with his ‘precious’.”
Carl’s ballpoint pen sketch of Dundee — the fourth in a project that aims to recreate all 69 major UK cities — was completed over the course of several months.
Tony said he had been so impressed with the drawing — and the thinking behind it — that he made arrangements to buy the original and the first print in January, before it was even finished.
“It was important to me that we kept it in Dundee. I got in touch as soon as I heard about it — I just had to nail it down,” he said.
“With the V&A and the development happening at the Waterfront, it shows things are happening to put Dundee on the map.
“I know they’re not the be all and end all to fixing the problems the city has had, but they will bring people into the city and they’ll spend money — and that will create jobs.
“Carl made Dundee one of his first stops before so many other cities on his project. And he has been so impressed by it — and that’s what we want to see.
“In my opinion, Dundee has been undersold for far too long.”
Carl’s sketch of the city went on show at The McManus on Saturday — three months after the London-based artist told the Tele it would be a “dream” to see the artwork go on public display.