It is not every day that you get to enjoy a unique experience, but a new exhibition at Duff House is offering visitors just that.
The groundbreaking history exhibition entitled Nation Live has been created by communities across the country and can be seen for the first time outside of Edinburgh at the popular north-east visitor attraction.
A project that’s been pioneered by the National Galleries of Scotland, the exhibition explores a number of key moments in Scotland’s history. Historical events spanning themes including work, roots, union, faith and civil war, were tackled by locals of all ages in community groups from Skye, Inverness, Dumfries, Clydebank and across the central belt. Working closely with professional artists and drawing inspiration from historic works of art held in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery’s collection, the groups – and individuals – were challenged to create their own contemporary interpretation of some of these key moments, incorporating their personal memories and stories into their final pieces.
The resulting artworks which they created are on display alongside reproductions of works of art from the national art collection which inspired these modern interpretations. These new artworks offer an insight into how contemporary Scots connect with Scottish history.
The two-year-long arts project also saw the involvement of several schools across the different regions. Third and fourth-year pupils at Keith Grammar School in Moray collaborated with Knockando Woollmill to create their own woollen panels, which were then joined together to illustrate their local environment and surroundings. Fourth-year pupils at Inverness’s Millburn Academy crafted aluminium medals that represented their own identity.
Nation Live also spans a number of multimedia platforms, including works that make use of video, music, performance and sculpture, but the centrepiece of the exhibition is a
film, created by renowned Scottish filmmaker Daniel Warren, that captures all five elements of the collaboration and features all the community groups involved.
Lorna Ewan, head of visitor experience, content and learning for Historic Scotland, which operates Duff House, said: “We’re pleased to welcome this flagship exhibition to Duff House. It is the first in an exciting programme of events at the house over the year ahead. The Nation Live is a truly unique project that explores history with a modern twist and we hope that our visitors will enjoy the pairing of traditional artworks with those created through the project by communities across Scotland.”
Schools can access Duff House and its collections through Historic Scotland’s free education visits scheme. Visiting the exhibition will enable students to gain an insight into Scotland’s past and how it is viewed today through these updated artworks, inspired by the national art collection.
The exhibition can be seen until Sunday, March 15, and is included within the admission price to the house, which is a masterpiece of baroque architecture and one of the most important buildings in the north of Scotland.
Designed in 1735 by renowned Scottish architect William Adam, it is now a five-star visitor attraction, run in partnership by Historic Scotland, the National Galleries of Scotland and Aberdeenshire Council.
Fact box:
WHERE: Duff House, Banff.
OPEN: Thursday-Sunday, 11am-4pm, until March 15
COST: adult £7.10, concession £5.70, child £4.30, exhibition only £4.40
CONTACT: www.duffhouse.org.uk or 01261 818 181