My script for 'Art Of Yes' event 25/03/2014, Glad Cafe, Glasgow.

The Art Of Yes

1 Map Of Kilbirnie

I'm not a nationalist and neither do I affiliate myself with any political party, but growing up in the

working class town of Kilbirnie, North Ayrshire and brought up in a working class family

household, there was never much in the way of political conversation or persuasion, just happy,

humble and well mannered up bringing, which I am grateful for. Having a life long Labour-voting

Father and a usually Liberal Democrat-voting Mother seemed to be my only awareness of politics at

a young age.

As a curious young boy there were always questions I'd ask myself like 'why do charities exist?',

'Why is there a 3^rd world?', 'why does famine exist?' 'If someone needs something why can't they

just take it without having to have money raised or earned to acquire it to survive?' various other

questions along this line would also crop up, basically why is the world the way it is? to ask a much

broader question. Answers to these questions became increasingly more obvious as I got older.

Living in a nation, I always though it was a given that you had to be proud of the country you live

in, watching Scotland play football as a young boy for example, you do get sucked in to all the

national pride malarkey. Of course, Scotland does have amazing and beautiful features and

attributes about it, rich in history as anyone who knows will tell you. The fight for independence

itself is one of the most famous aspects of its history, but the same could be said of the history of so

many countries around the world.

2 Glengarnock Steel Curl Sculpture

The steel sculpture sits on the main roundabout just off Kilbirnie's Main Street, a memory of the

once thriving iron and steel industry in the town that began in the 19^th century succeeding the flax

and weaving industry that preceded it.

My dad earned a trade as an engineer and worked in the Glengarnock steelworks from leaving

school in around 1965 up until 1985 when the plant closed its doors for the very last time due to

Thatcher's government as was evidently the reason for a lot of industries in communities at that

time. The steelworks provided employment for most men and women in the town and at the time

was part of a rather thriving community, a community which is only starting to reoccur ever so

slightly in the last year or two. This is one reason why I'll be voting YES, as I hope with this

opportunity, it can bring back the community aspect Kilbirnie once had.

3 Courbet's Artist In The Studio

Growing up and never really having taken an interest in politics directly, but at the same time

certainly aware of it, I suppose art was my outlet (or my way in if you like) to understanding the

broader scheme of life, not just in a political way, but historically and emotionally too. Artists such

as the archetypal tortured artist, Van Gogh, the rebellious, Caravaggio, Courbet, Mary Cassatt,

Dame Laura Knight and the rather bizarre surrealist and, as I found out in later years, the fascist

sympathizer, Salvador Dali to name a few of the obvious artists gave me different angles to

approach life. Closer to home and in a non nationalist way, I became aware and for a time interested

in the work of the Glasgow Boys and an artist who tends to sit on the periphery of such groups,

John Byrne. Strong national poets such as Edwin Morgan, Norman McCaig and Hugh McDairmid

(C.M. Grieve) were present and taught me indirectly about the country I was living in.

The already mentioned Courbet was the first 'political' artist I came across and arguably the first

modern painter, painting vivid social realist paintings such as 'Stone Breakers', depicting real life

people hard at work. This made me think about art from a different angle.

4 A Tear In Reality

With these influences coming in from all angles, I have continuously led a productive life, trying to

make sense of my own creativity. Heavily indebted to the surrealists in particular, I have more or

less always favoured the obscure when making art. My work isn't particularly political, the only

vague relation I could make with my art to politics would be in my work of the last 2 years, an

example of which is before you. The image depicts a utopia of an alternative reality, obscured with

interesting symbols and references from history, science, religion and astronomy. 'Utopia' is the

vague relation to politics. Utopia is usually related to a perfect world or as the dictionary definition

says 'no such place' but the utopias I draw are bombarded with emblems and motifs. I like to label

my work apolitical as this comes across less threatening and more welcoming. The work I make is a

crossroad for interpretation and engagement.

Psychogeography

5 Map Of Paris

Through learning about various movements, interventions, and actions in art history throughout my

life, I became aware revolts were happening for a reason, and art wasn't this sweet colourful utopia

you thought of as a kid. These revolts were mostly for political reasons, mainly coming from early

20^th century avant garde groups such as the Dadaists, the Futurists and the Surrealists. It was

primarily the left wing thinking of Dadaism that made the most impact breaking down the barrier

between art and life..With these movements I realised the art (or anti-art with respect to the

Dadaists) had more to it than meets the eye. That's not to knock any artists whose work isn't

political with a capital P, my work itself I like to think of as apolitical because my interest in

creativity lies elsewhere.

This breaking down of conventional life spread to Psychogeography, a term that, despite becoming

familiar through increasing interest since it's beginning with the Paris-based Lettrist Group with

Guy Debord (who is more commonly associated with the Situationist International) but can also be

traced back to the likes of Charles Baudelaire and Thomas de Quincey, has had shifting definitions

throughout the years. Despite the academic, political and literary attachment, what

Psychogeography is, in a nutshell, is walking.

6 Stewart Home

The Clydeside Flaneurs, which involves myself, Keira, Rebecca, Rich, Aure, Michael, Nicky and

Gillian take some influence, but not all, from the diverse array of groups and individuals who have

been connected with the term 'psychogeography' as far back as the already mentioned Thomas de

Quincey with his writings of 'strolling' through town and as recent as enfant terrible London writer

Stewart Home and fellow London writer Iain Sinclair. We are an outfit of artists taking on the role

of unearthing the lesser known histories of Glasgow as well as the ability of obscuring and twisting

the currently accepted mythologies of Glasgow. Urban art terrorists, if you like, bringing back the

past of Glasgow's rich and diverse culture. As previous Psychogeographical groups and individuals

have more or less demonstrated, we want to make aware of the cities geographical and historical

treasures that are overshadowed by the dictatorship of the high street stores and one way streets.

7 ROCKPAPERVIDEO

As well as the recently created Clydeside Flaneurs, I am part of the artists collective

ROCKPAPERVIDEO which was set up by myself and fellow artist Margaret Gilbertson for like

minded creatives from various backgrounds and from a broad spectrum of expertise (i.e. art school

trained, self-taught.) as an outlet and an alternative route to have the opportunity to display their

artwork in various spaces, some renovated, some not, throughout the city of Glasgow, but not

excluding further afield. The collective isn't intended to be strictly political at all, it is a framework

for opportunity for anyone willing to engage, help and take part in an already evolving alternative

artistic circuit. With regards to the referendum, I suppose the only thing we as a collective hope for

is more availability for opportunities within a creative sector in an independent country.

My only reason, which may come across as rather vague to some, to voting yes is not voting for the

Scottish National Party (which is the case for many) but a tactical vote for a stepping stone to a

more fruitful future. That future may take years, and in my eyes could be, even only as a dreamlike

comment and maybe not in my lifetime, a socialist country, but not in the way history has

misinterpreted socialism. If (and I hope so) Scotland wins the referendum, I'd like it to be for the

communities to thrive again, that are few and far between.

Thus explaining me and my reason (as best I can) for voting YES.