Waiting game seems a dram fine idea for piece’s creator
A ONE-OFF literary artwork as been unveiled at a west end restaurant – but viewers will need to wait 50 years for it to be revealed in full.
The piece, by conceptual artist Jonathon Keats, features words by Scottish-Jamaican poet Jeda Pearl which will gradually appear over the next few decades to patrons of the Ubiquitos Chip.
Commissioned by Glengoyne, Scotland’s slowest distilled whisky, the idea is to challenge people’s ideas of time in today’s ‘instant’ culture.
Jeda’s poem ‘mynd oor gloamin corrieneuchin’ has been covered by a layer of UV-sensitive ink through a specialised printing technique. The ink will slowly fade when exposed to ultraviolet light, revealing the words over time.
It is hoped the artwork “will inspire new generations of artists and art lovers” at the restaurant, which features two murals by celebrated Scots artist Alasdair Gray on its walls.
Jeda said: “Inspired by Glengoyne’s location and the slow patience of craftsmanship, I wanted this poem to capture the beautiful sense of timelessness and slow
growth while walking in nature and those intimate conversations we have with friends which could last all night.”
Colin Clydesdale, co-owner of the Ubiquitous Chip, said: “The Chip has always enjoyed a strong connection to Scotland’s arts scene, and the decision to be part of this new project featuring such outstanding artistic talent was an easy one to make. It’s an honour.
“We have been here for 50 years – and serving fine whisky has always been a big part of that.The thought that people will continue to come here for another five decades to enjoy a dram and appreciate innovative art is rather lovely.”
Jeda’s poem is part of a global exhibition.
Keats, an American renowned conceptual artist and experimental philosopher based in New York, said: “Initiatives that take place over a long time, based on gradual change, have the potential to reconnect us with nature and our own humanity.”
He added: “This project is an attempt to recalibrate society by providing a new platform for slow culture.”