AN exhibition of works created within the last year by a number of award-winning artists with a strong North East connection opens to the public tomorrow (Saturday) at Aberdeen Art Gallery. All of the works on display in Gordon Contemporaries are by artists who have previously been winners of The David and June Gordon Memorial Trust Award at the Royal Scottish Academy New Contemporaries exhibition, held annually in Edinburgh since 2008.
The David and June Gordon Memorial Trust has been supporting the arts, community and youth organisation in the North East for nearly 50 years, including an annual prize to artists with local links whose work has been selected for the RSA New Contemporaries. There are works by 18 artists on display in the Aberdeen Art Gallery exhibition, including Nicole Porter, Lizzie Lilley, Kinga Elliott and Ade Adesina. Adesina graduated from Gray’s School of Art in 2011 and was elected a Royal Scottish Academician in 2017.
RSA New Contemporaries represents the Royal Scottish Academy’s commitment to supporting and promoting emerging artists and architects in Scotland. Now in its fifteenth year, this important exhibition is a selected from the degree shows at the five main colleges of art and five schools of architecture in Scotland, including Gray’s School of Art and the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture in Aberdeen.
The Gordon Contemporaries exhibition is presented in association with The David and June Gordon Memorial Trust and Haddo Arts. It is supported by McInroy & Wood, Personal Investment Managers.
The David Gordon Trust was formed in 1975 with the aim of providing funds for the continuation of the work started by the late 4th Marquess of Aberdeen and Temair, David Gordon. He, together with his wife June, had an abiding interest in music, the arts, charitable youth groups and in the continuation of ecumenical services in the chapel of Haddo House in Aberdeenshire. Following the death of June Gordon in 2009, the Trust was renamed The David and June Gordon Memorial Trust.
Councillor Martin Greig, Aberdeen City Council’s culture spokesperson said, “Once again Aberdeen Art Gallery is shining a light on the wealth of artistic talent with strong links to the North East in this exhibition of new works by previous recipients of the David and June Gordon Memorial Trust Award. The artists have all spoken of the importance of the award to them at a time when they graduating from their studies in art and architecture, providing invaluable encouragement and a welcome boost to their confidence as they embarked on a new chapter in the creative development. The work on display is amazing and demonstrates great talent. The exhibition is well worth a visit.”
Peter Hunter, Chair of The David and June Gordon Memorial Trust, said: “We have been thrilled to work with the excellent team at Aberdeen Art Gallery to mount this exhibition and to celebrate the work of these talented artists from the North East. David and June Gordon were remarkable for the way they encouraged creative young people in all branches of the arts and the Trust is delighted to be continuing their work. We wish all the contributing artists the best of luck with their careers and much look forward to our reunion with them.”
