Lochailort artist Rob Fairley curates global exhibition at Resipole Studios
Creative people are often asked about the people who have inspired them in their work. Often the influence can be seen or heard in their writing, music or art if they are well known, but sometimes the influence is more subtle or not even visible at all, writes Nic Goddard.
Alongside a solo exhibition of the first new work in a decade by Lochailort artist Rob Fairley at Resipole Studios, near Acharacle, sits IF – International Fairley.
It has been curated by Fairley himself and showcases an eclectic assembly of works from artists worldwide who have had an influence on his work.
Fairley, who was the founder of Room 13 in Caol, has a strong connection to the land and the wilderness, having travelled extensively, worked as a mountain guide, crofter and spent a solitary few years on Shona Beag in the 1970s.
This is reflected in the landscapes and animals in his work but his connection to people is apparent too, whether as subjects for his work or inspirational people he has happened upon along the way.
In 2019 the story of a chance meeting with a small girl some 27 years previously was told in his book Prinaka. Whilst only in her company for a few hours the legacy of that
connection and the openness to learning from others which Fairley showed then, with his work with children during Room 13 and continues to this day is demonstrated beautifully in IF - International Fairley.
The exhibition, which is on display until August 27 in Resipole Studios shows many powerful pieces of art, side by side in the gallery connected by their association with Fairley.
Some are the work of artists who Fairley knows well, others from people he has never met in person, but all have had an impact and an influence on him and his work.
Fairley explained: ‘When I began to put together this exhibition I dreamed that the preview might allow me to meet and introduce to each other many of the friends who impress and inspire me. Covid-19 has destroyed that dream for at least this year.’
With many of the artists who have work featured in the exhibition scattered across the globe few will see their work on display here in this remote corner of the Highlands.
Gallery manager Kerrie Robinson explained: ‘We are so thrilled to be showing the work of so many artists from around the world in this exhibition. The show really does give an insight into the many influences on Rob’s work too.’
With pieces of art including sculpture, collage, ink, oil and watercolour, calligraphy and cartoons it is apparent that there is certainly no one single influence on Fairley.
Visiting the exhibition this weekend I could not manage to decide on my own favourite piece on a single wall, let alone of the whole show. Varied influences they may be, but they sit beautifully together alongside each other.