The Fruitmarket Gallery 45 Market Street, Edinburgh EH11DF Scotland Royaume-Uni
A major exhibition of films and photographs by Willie Doherty, one of the most significant artists of our times. Rooted in the political and geographical landscape of his native Northern Ireland, Doherty's work expands out of this context to address universal themes of individual and collective subjectivity and responsibility, creating a new framework within which to think about who we are and how we live.
This exhibition brings together a selection of new and existing films and photographs, and includes a new film, Buried, made specially for the exhibition. The new film was made and is shown in the context of Ghost Story, first shown at the Venice Biennale in 2007. Both of the works deal with memory, its repression and return, but while Ghost Story is narrated by a male voice piecing together a story of remembered horror, Buried relies on ambient sound to animate its dark, almost gothic woodland imagery. The films influence each other, the recounted memories, dreams and premonitions of Ghost Story seeping into Buried.
Also in the exhibition is Re-Run (2002), a double-screen projection showing a man on a bridge simultaneously running towards and away from the viewer. The film was shot on the Craigavon Bridge over the River Foyle, which literally and symbolically divides the Catholic and Protestant communities in Derry. It is shown together with a new series of photographs taken in Belfast, in which images taken now are joined by several taken in 1988 but never previously shown. The artist's return to his own history has a resonance with the imagery of remembering and forgetting that motivates Ghost Story, Buried and much of his work.
A catalogue has been published by The Fruitmarket Gallery to accompany the exhibition. There is also a limited edition print available which is a still from Doherty's new film Buried.
The Fruitmarket Gallery is a not-for-profit organisation and a Scottish Charity presenting world-class, challenging art made by Scottish and International artists in an environment that is welcoming, engaging, informative and always free. The Gallery is Foundation Funded by the Scottish Arts Council for up to 65% of its running costs and must fundraise to support its exhibitions, education and publishing programmes.