Billing itself as the largest annual art festival in the UK (the bi-annual Glasgow International may have a claim on the title on size alone), Edinburgh Art Festival has grown substantially in the last few years to become a deeply-embedded part of the Edinburgh Festival month of August. Part of the attraction for visitors is the ever-growing programme of original works which the festival commissions, often in temporary, site-specific locations around the city.
Taking inspiration from Italo Calvino, this year’s theme is ‘The Improbable City’, with the artists involved charged with exploring the magical and fantastical resonances of Edinburgh as a city, and exploring the secret places found therein. Below, we look at five of the most high-profile artists involved.
Charles Avery
Expanding upon his project 'The Islanders', which sees a fictional island being created by the artist through his art, from the locations and geography to the language and culture, Avery’s EAF 2015 piece will be a bronze tree sited in the heart of Waverley Station, a landmark which was itself named after a work of fiction.
Charles Avery, Tree No.2Courtesy the Artist, GRIMM Amsterdam and Pilar Corrias Gallery, London.
Marvin Gaye Chetwynd
Not much has been revealed about the specifics of the 2012 Turner Prize nominee’s piece, other than that it will be sited in the debating chamber of the old Royal High School on Calton Hill, that it’s named after and based upon Mary Renault’s Greek historical novel 'The King Must Die', and that a theme of pagan abandon runs through it – fitting, given that Calton Hill hosts the annual Beltane Fire Festival.
Marvin Gaye Chetwynd, The King Must Die.Copyright the artist, courtesy Sadie Coles HQ and Studio Voltaire, London.
Kemang Wa Lehulere
Born and raised in Cape Town, young artist Kemang Wa Lehulere has been named the Standard Bank Young Artist for Visual Art 2015 at the South African National Art Festival. He works in chalk, creating detailed, often abstract pictures in public spaces which are as detailed as they are transient.
Kemang Wa Lehulere, Exit permit 1, 2 and 3 and I can't laugh anymore, when I can't laugh I can't...
Julie Favreau
Created while on a residency at Hospitalfield in Arbroath, 'She Century' sees French-Canadian artist Julie Favreau combine her twin interests in visual art and choreography in a film piece which alludes to feminist themes through its use of a single female figure. Intriguingly, her biography suggests her work is intended to create ‘gestures out of sculptures or... sculptures out of gestures.’
Julie Favreau, She CenturyCourtesy of the artist and Battat Contemporary
Hanna Tuulikki and Emma Finn
Both early-career artists exhibiting separate pieces here, English-Finnish, Edinburgh-based artist and singer Tuulikki will explore the 13th century musical practice of ‘hocketing’ in performances around the city’s closes, while the Irish and also Edinburgh-based Emma Finn will create a fantastical new video piece.
Emma Finn, Double Mountain, 2015Courtesy the artist.
Edinburgh Art Festival runs from Thu Jul 30 to Sun Aug 30.
Check out more art exhibitions in Edinburgh.