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February 2021
Mackintosh and the Glasgow Four
Mackintosh and the Glasgow Four - a lecture by Anne Anderson Charles Rennie Mackintosh is now regarded as Britain’s greatest architect but it is well known that his potential was never fully realised during his lifetime and he ended his days in obscurity. The role played by his wife, Margaret Macdonald, and his collaborators, Francis Macdonald and Herbert MacNair has also been obscured. At the time Mackintosh claimed that while he was talented his wife was a genius. Margaret certainly…
Find out more »March 2021
Bhutan – The Kingdom of the Thunder Dragon
Bhutan - The Kingdom of the Thunder Dragon - a lecture by Zara Fleming A general introduction to the tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, known by its inhabitants as Druk Yul or land of the Thunder Dragon. This is a reference to the Drukpa tradition of Vajrayana Buddhism that permeates every aspect of Bhutanese life. This lecture explores the history, art and culture of this extraordinary country, which for centuries has preserved its traditional Buddhist values. Over the last few…
Find out more »April 2021
“Everything is Art. Everything is Politics” – Ai WeiWei
"Everything is Art. Everything is Politics" - Ai WeiWei - a lecture by Frank Woodga This lecture will examine the provocative and often beautiful work of the Chinese artist Ai Weiwei in the context of dissident art in China, Europe and South America, and examine some of his sources of inspiration, including the Russian Constructivist, Vladimir Tatlin, and the leading Dada artist, Marcel Duchamp. Ai Weiwei collaborated with Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron in designing the Beijing National Stadium…
Find out more »May 2021
Napoleon and His Artists
Napoleon and His Artists - a lecture by Barry Venning The French painter Girodet, spoke for all those who worked for Napoleon when he said “We were all conscripted, but not all of us wore the uniform”. Bonaparte’s brilliant exploits in the Revolutionary Wars attracted artists from the earliest stages in his career and he made systematic use of art as propaganda to reveal himself as soldier, peacemaker, lawgiver and the possessor of semi-divine imperial power. He was fortunate to…
Find out more »June 2021
Photography as Fine Art.
Photography as Fine Art. - lecture by Brian Stater Should we accept that the very best photographs can be regarded as Fine Art? This question is at the heart of a lecture which argues that photography can equal, not to say exceed, more traditional disciplines in the key genres of portraiture, landscape and still life. Photography, moreover, has carved its own area of excellence in depicting the human condition. All these ideas are discussed with reference to the work of…
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