Published: 27 Apr 2022
Like a Huge Scotland. Credit Mark Cousins.
Acclaimed writer, director and cinematographer, Mark Cousins will present an ambitious new artwork at the Fruitmarket in Edinburgh.
In Like a Huge Scotland, Cousins will focus a forensic eye on the glacier paintings of esteemed 20th century Scottish artist, Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, enlarging details to 10,000 times their original size to reveal their almost molecular structure.
Like a Huge Scotland. Credit Mark Cousins.
Shot on 8K cameras, the large-scale, enveloping, four-channel installation is being made in collaboration with the Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Trust, directed by Rob Airey. Visuals will be complemented by a soundscape of glacier creaking and cracking recordings and an expressive musical score.
Mark Cousins says: “Wilhelmina Barns-Graham was a brilliant, free-thinking 20th Century artist. My work, Like Huge Scotland, is electrified by her paintings in the way she was electrified by a climb up to a glacier in the Alps in May 1949.
Wilhelmina Barns-Graham is courtesy of the Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Trust
“In the Fruitmarket, with composer Linda Buckley and sound designer Ania Przgoda, I will plunge people into the feeling of being inspired, of looking anew, of having your brain changed. What does inspiration feel like? What happened to Barns-Graham on that day?”
Fiona Bradley, Fruitmarket Director says: “Being able to respond to the creativity and vision of artists is the principal reason we made the new Fruitmarket Warehouse as part of our redevelopment and expansion. It’s really exciting to be working with Mark Cousins on this.”
Running from 5–27 November 2022, Like a Huge Scotland is one of 117 creative projects and research and development activities receiving a total of £2.7 million in the latest round of Creative Scotland’s Open Fund.
At a glance:
Paul Burns, Interim Deputy Director of Arts & Engagement at Creative Scotland said: “Thanks to funding from the Scottish Government, the Open Fund continues to support the creation of unique and inspiring work from artists and community groups all over the country.
“Once more, a huge variety of projects and endeavours will provide valuable cultural experiences for people of all ages and backgrounds.”
Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland distributing funding provided by the Scottish Government and The National Lottery. Further information at creativescotland.com. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Learn more about the value of art and creativity in Scotland and join in at www.ourcreativevoice.scot
You can find contact details for our Media & PR team in our Media Centre.
