ARTIST # 15: JOCK MCFADYEN
3 Calton Hill 3, 2014, by Jock Mcfadyen
In April this year, as a result of the Covid- 19 pandemic, the 2020 edition of the Edinburgh Art Festival had to be cancelled. However, as Edinburgh and its vibrant visual art scene begin to emerge from lockdown we are delighted to present this new weekly showcase, produced alongside Edinburgh Art Festival, featuring work by artists with digital and/ or physical exhibitions at the city’s galleries.
Timed to mark his 70th birthday, Jock Mcfadyen goes to the Pictures is a major exhibition at the City Art Centre in Edinburgh, consisting of paintings by the artist and works from the gallery’s own collection. Over the last year Mcfadyen has regularly visited the City Art Centre’s picture stores to select works for the show, and his choices range from old favourites by renowned Scottish artists such as Alan Davie and FCB Cadell, to pieces that have rarely been seen by the public.
Through a series of fascinating pairings, the exhibition encourages viewers to take a closer look at both Mcfadyen’s pictures and the works they have been paired with. Images that might initially seem unrelated reveal unexpected connections and relationships. Some of these juxtapositions are witty; some are striking or surprising. By showcasing these artworks side by side, the exhibition aims to highlight common visual threads that connect all pictures, mixing up the traditional boundaries of period, style and artistic posture, and placing the collection and Mcfadyen’s work in a fresh and exciting context.
Jock Mcfadyen goes to the Pictures runs from 14 November until 11 April 2021. Tickets are free but must be booked in advance via www. edinburghmuseums. org. uk