Prepare for immortality

During a wander through the National Gallery in Edinburgh last week I was particularly struck by this self portrait done by the then 19 year old Grangemouth born Alan Davie when he was studying at ECA. It stopped me in my tracks for a few reasons, firstly his very self-assured teen look, secondly my own son is 19 and studying at ECA and thirdly Davie drew this in the year WW2 started. Within eighteen months he was an RAF tail gunner flying over occupied Europe.

His name rang a bell with me, one that I associated with Jazz, Paris, abstract expressionists, Jackson Pollock and the 1950's. I presumed that he would have been long gone by now and thought no more of him. Until this morning, when the following video popped up on my facebook page via an ex-pat Scottish pal in Canada.





The video was produced by his Parisian Gallery Gimpel & Müller and was a trailer for a full length documentary for French Television celebrating his 90th birthday last year.


I loved the work and his personality, particularly his sprightly inquisitive nature, although, my inner Scot raged, "why is it that we always appear to be more celebrated and appreciated abroad than at home?" I mentally added Davie to my long list of those prophets out with their own land. Those poets, philosophers, musicians, actors, writers and artists whom we routinely ignore or never knew much about in the first place.


However, I was delighted to discover that I had presumed in haste. A quick rumble through that video depositary of kittens doing amusing things, knows as You Tube, produced the following, long forgotten, little viewed gem from Scottish Television - 'Talking Pictures'.  


Living in Glasgow at the time I have vague memories of the programme as a late night, half hour celebration of artists in or from Scotland, tucked away in the schedule between 'Crimedesk with Bill Knox' and 'Late Call'. I presume, since we're blighted by Border TV as our Independent broadcaster, that this was never shown in the region. I suspect that STV made the programme on the strength of Glasgow's successful year as 'European Capital of Culture' in 1990. The above episode was filmed back in 1992, as can be evidenced by the funky synth theme tune and the ultra mode clothing worn by presenter Vivien Hamilton, very much of its day ...or perhaps since it was Glasgow, the latter days of the previous decade.
The episode gives us quite a bit about the essential Alan Davie, who he is what makes him tick. It's simply wonderful.


There is also local flavour in episode 2 with a well kent face in the form of a hirsute and not so grey Mr Andy Goldsworthy The episode is a perfect accompaniment to the acclaimed 'Rivers and Tides', as we get a very talkative Andy  really opening up about his practise, notably his use and understanding of thorns and spit!




Mark MacLachlan