Articles about Contemporary Art of the Scottish Islands.
#EvenHereEvenNow PechaKucha Event
My presentation for this PechaKucha event hosted by Andrew Eaton Lewis 26/4/2025.
8 Artist presentations across the Isles of Orkney, Shetland and the Outer Hebrides.
It was great to be part of this event. Taking place simultaneously at An Lanntair, Taigh Chearsabhagh Museumand Arts Centre, Shetland Arts and online, the evening featured eight short, visually striking talks by the following artists: Laura Drever (Orkney) Anna Gardiner and Frances Scott of Moti Collective (Orkney) Andy Laffan of Hulabhaig (Lewis) Zoe Paterson Macinnes (Lewis) Joyce Davies (Shetland) Shona Main (Shetland) Meg Rodger (Uist) Alex Brown and Rosie Blake (Uist)
It was great to see so much artist talent across the islands and a huge thank you to Andrew Eaton Lewis, for hosting the event and overcoming some huge last minute technical issues.
I took the opportunity to tell a bit of my story and was able to talk about my sculpture and Hulabhaig as curator and collector. Here are my slides and a transcript of my talk.
1. HULABHAIG
Like many incomers, I came for a better balance of work, life, health and art.
I’m a consumer of art, I want to Consume Island Visual Art.
I want to understand its place in the broader contemporary arts culture of Scotland and beyond.
And learn from it. Its history, the stories and the unique sense of place that our island arts culture has to offer.
2. HAMMER ON CHISEL
I came to Lewis to carve nice (Lewisian Gneiss).
Maybe to add my own personal intervention into the 2.7 billion years of metamorphic land struggle.
An outsider, incomer, sculptor, trying to find a place,
Still struggling to connect my art with the land.
3. STILL UNRESOLVED
I feel my own sculpture work is still unresolved,
Still trying to find its direction, its place and connection.
I’m Placing it in the landscape, and this is raising questions,
About what belongs here….
…And what does not!
4. HULABHAIG AS CURATOR
Hulabhaig is my curatorial practice,
Where I hope to find answers, through research, questioning, general discourse and the sharing of Island Contemporary Art.
I’m asking questions, not only of my work, but that of others.
Searching for an Island Visual Arts identity.
5. HULABHAIG @ BNC
During my time at Baile na Cille church in Uig, I was exploring possibilities,
I believe I achieved two key outcomes…
Firstly, I was able attract a new owner, one willing to invest in the buildings renovation and who is now opening it up as a space for art and events.
But more importantly for me, it allowed me to connect with island artists and explore my own curatorial ideas.
6. HULABHAIG @ BNC
I was asking questions about island visual art,
Its art history,
Its Influences from Gaelic culture,
And while working with artists, indigenous, incomers and visiting artists.
I gained a better understanding of Island contemporary art practice.
a. Plastic Installation by Mairi Gillies
b. Rupa’s winter residency
c. Katie Harris Macleod
7. HULABHAIG @ BNC
I was asking questions of island history
The Art & Memory exhibition showcased Malcolm Maclean & Torcuil Crichton’s Iolaire sculpture images.
And Will Maclean & Marian Leven’s Land Raiders Monuments.
Important historical artworks about important historical events.
In total I curating and co curating 12 group shows over 4 years.
8. RESEARCH
My research explores past, present and future,
Exploring a history of island contemporary art to be documented and shared.
I’m researching and reviewing Important exhibitions and finding books and essays to guide my way, all are revealing artwork and artists of great interest.
9. THE HULABHAIG COLLECTION
The Hulabhaig Collection is a small but growing collection of Island Contemporary Art.
My aim as curator, it is to find artists whose work is very much ‘of these islands’,
I hope to meet artists, discuss ideas, influences, follow up with further research and then to document and share my findings.
And on the way maybe acquire some great artworks for the collection.
10. THE HULABHAIG COLLECTION
So far…
I’m discovering some fascinating work,
Work from indigenous artists, telling personal stories of crofting and byres.
The collection includes some wonderful photographic still life sculptures from Calum Angus Mackay.
Including these, Congar Eel, Nailed Skate and Frozen Bait
11. THE HULABHAIG COLLECTION
I’m finding Art of crofting, remote rural landscapes and Harris lochans.
Here we have High Borve, by Mairi Gillies
Aiteal ('Transient view') by Sandra Kennedy
And Geo, by Nickolai Globe
I’m finding
Art that matters…
12.
…and, sadly, art that does not.
I’m seeing how we are seen by outsiders, visitors and absent voyeurs consuming our art via social media.
Sadly, the lingering effects of Scottish Romanticism still overly dominant.
But there’s so much more to be found if only one is willing to look beyond the
chess pieces and beach views.
13. THE HULABHAIG COLLECTION
Art deeply rooted in place, community and landscape,
art looking inwards, into a troubled history that has stories to tell,
connecting people and places, art unseen beyond our shores, art worthy of a greater audience.
I’m delighted to include these two video works from Fraser MacBeath.
14. THE HULABHAIG COLLECTION
Art about longing and belonging, about place and identity…
I visited Mary in her studio a couple of weeks ago,
Enthralled by her enthusiasm to create new work,
now that she has returned to her home and cultural heritage.
I was delighted to come away with these three works for the collection.
15. THE HULABHAIG COLLECTION
I’m also finding artwork depicting the wonderful beauty of our natural environment.
Work here by Beka Globe from her Flowers Series.
A collection of large format photographs, offering an insect like viewpoint,
Capturing a presence of being amongst the flowers.
16. THE HULABHAIG COLLECTION
Art exploring oral folklore, artists questioning their own personal spirituality and taking risks.
Danielle’s excellent ‘Guardians’ Series exemplifies the high quality of conceptual art coming from talented young island artists.
My favourites here, Pentland Guardian and Light Guardian
17. THE HULABHAIG COLLECTION
And even here in our remote rural island home.
I’m seeing quality art exploring unexpected urban subjects,
John Ross and Donald by Deljeem Rai,
In his Karns (Cearns) project Deljeem searches for his own personal identity within the welcoming local community of Stornoway.
A personal story I’m delighted to share on the Hulabhaig website.
18. THE HULABHAIG COLLECTION
The collection also has work from a collaboration with Jura artist Giles Perring
and London artist Andy Metcalf.
These works were kindly gifted during their touring exhibition ‘Exposure’ in 2021.
Curated by Kirsty Law at Baile na Cille.
19. THE FUTURE
And what of the future…
‘New Contemporaries 2025’ at the RSA is a great indicator of what’s to come.
This year our island has been well represented by Bronwyn Mackenzie.
I’m very hopeful that I’ll soon be able to including one of her work in the collection.
I’m also looking to the Scottish Schools of Art for emerging Island talent.
20. CONCLUSION
So, in conclusion,
I’m collecting Island Contemporary Art.
Using Hulabhaig to curate, document and share it online.
and like #EvenHereEvenNow maybe helping to create a louder collective voice
Hulabhaig aims to acquire art through purchase, loan or as gifts.
the collection currently has 25 artworks from 13 artists. Small but growing.
A collection to be shared, initially online,
but as it grows, It would be great to find it a permanent home for it and maybe open it to the public.
So please visit the website.
Where you can subscribe for monthly updates on reviews, articles and any new additions to the collection.
Cruinneachadh Hulabhaig The Hulabhaig Collection of Island Contemporary Art.
Collecting art has always been a far off distant wish for me, reserved for rich arty types wanting to inflate egos or make a bob or two, requiring deep pockets and plenty of space to enjoy it. Fortunately, that’s not me, my limited income and rented accommodation has in the past always limited my collecting ambitions.
However, now the time feels right. I’ve settled here on the Isle of Lewis, and as I move into ‘semi-retirement’, I’ve finally reached the favourable position of living mortgage and rent free, and together with a commitment to go alcohol free, I can now set aside a small annual budget for spending on contemporary art for the collection.
Collecting art has to come from the heart, it’s a personal thing, art speaks to its viewer in many different ways, evoking memories, intrigue, beauty, shock, ambivolence, meloncholy, all personal emotional responses. This is what I want to collect, ‘Emotions’.
Collecting contemporary art can also have a role to play, it can tell a story, showcase current art practice, explore art history and educate.
The Hulabhaig Collection of Island Contemporary Art, will aim to be my personal response and documentation of the art and artists from the these Islands.
By focussing on Scottish island contemporary art I hope to give the collection an important 'local' significance, helping to create an 'Identity' for island contemporary art practice within the wider contemporary arts culture.
This website will be my way to visually share the collection to a global audience, and in doing so, I hope to open up a general dialogue about Island Contemporary Art.
Initially as a personal collection, in time I hope it could become an important asset to the islands artist communities, and eventually find a permanent island home where it can be opened to the public.
Tiugainn Dachaidh by Fraser MacBeath
Andy Laffan, Hulabhaig Curator
23/Sep/2024
Hulabhaig (not) at Baile na Cille!
After 5 years exploring possibilities at Baile na Cille church in Uig, its time to move on.
As you may know Baile na Cille church recently changed ownership, and in trying to progress with Hulabhaig's mission to explore its potential as a contemporary arts venue I invited local artists, including renown RSA academicians, curators and members of the Uig community to help me form a group to manage future events at Baile na Cille church that would help the new owners to develop the church into an artist led art space for the benefit of the local community and island wide artists.
Sadly, our proposals and ambitions as a group didn’t seem to fit comfortably with the new owners future plans for the building, who have now set up their own ‘steering group’ which will manage events at Baile na Cille church.
In an attempt to progress on my own with ‘Hulabhaig at Baile na Cille church’ I continued to discuss ideas and present proposals to the new owners, but unfortunately, over the last few months, I have felt that Hulabhaig’s vision to focus on artists and to encourage the creation of new work is now unlikely to be attained by working under the new ‘steering group’, so a parting of ways has been becoming more and more inevitable.
I feel I’ve achieved what I initially set out to do, which was to show that the church did have a future as a place for art. I also believe the new owners aims are still to see it utilised as an arts venue but, sadly I guess their own commercial needs will somehow take priority over the needs of artists and the community.
It is sad that this type of project is so difficult to get up and running and then is almost impossible to be sustainably maintained despite all the support I have had from artists across the islands and beyond, but ultimately it needs money to keep curatorial control and when public funds are not an easy option, relying on private sources will inevitably lead to conflicts of interest and the watering down of ideals.
Despite this I do wish them all the best in their new venture.
Hulabhaig at Baile na Cille
Andy Laffan, Hulabhaig Curator
23/Sep/2024
Turning Eighty Five
Turning Eight Five was the final show for Hulabhaig at Baile na Cille, and probably the most visited. Such potential sadly lost. My thanks to John Hayes and Louise Scullion for making it happen.
Curated by Jon Macleod, this show was well received. With beautiful bronze peats and glass castings from Shaun Fraser and an array of small but powerful ink on paper works from Katie Harris Macleod.
Aignish Memorial, Isle of Lewis, 1996 by Will Maclean & Marian Leven. Photograph Robin Gillanders
Andy Laffan, Hulabhaig Curator
23/Sep/2024
An Dubh is an Dearg - The Black and the Red.
Local artist and sculptor Rupachitta Robertson shows new work created during an exploration of thoughts, materials, photography and sound inspired by Baile na Cille church, studying themes of the chur...
Stephan-Maria Aust Margaret Uttley David Knight Màiri NicGillìosa Geoff Stear Presented at Baile na Cille church 14th August to 31st August 2021 and now online.
EXPOSURE was a collaboration between musician, sound artist and photographer Giles Perring and filmmaker and painter Andy Metcalf, carried out, principally, on the Isle of Jura.
Hulabhaig weas pleased to bring together some personal works for a personal space. This collection represents my own interest in conceptual art, often misunderstood, sometimes in-comprehendible, odd and rarely explained by the artists, but each has a story to tell if you can find it...
Originally planned as a selected show at Baile na Cille in Uig, unfortunately cancelled due to the Covid-19 outbreak, we re-opened 'The Open' to all artists who have an interest or connection with the Outer Hebrides.
Andrea Ingram : Geoff Stear : Stephan-Maria Aust : Andy Laffan
17th December to January 31st 2020.
The title 'A Work in Progress' alluded to the current activity at the church in Uig. Since its sale by the Church of Scotland in 2010, its future had been uncertain. Then in collaboration with owners Brian and Miranda Gayton, Hulabhaig were delighted to be able to explore its potential as an art gallery. This first exhibition brought together a collection of work by contemporary artists across the Isles of Lewis and Harris and included photography, painting and sculpture.
Hulabhaig was delighted to present a new collection of large abstract artworks on canvas and a selection of smaller scale artworks on paper from renown Isle of Harris artist Geoff Stear.
In 2018, Hulabhaig started experimenting with producing 'Cloud Exhibitions' as a method of curating online solo and group shows of work from island based artists. Back then everything was 'virtual'.
