GENERATION: Rachel Maclean
18 July 2014
Scotland's most important artists of the past 25 years are being celebrated in GENERATION - a programe of exhibitions across the country in 2014. In a series of short films for BBC Arts, Kirsty Wark meets some of the creative minds who transformed the art scene in Scotland.
Rachel Maclean
Kirsty Wark talks to Rachel Maclean
Outlandish characters and fantasy worlds dominate Rachel Maclean’s videos and photography, which she uses to delve into politics, society and identity.
Wearing colourful costumes and make-up, Maclean takes on every role in her films herself. She uses computer technology to generate her locations, and borrows audio from television and cinema to construct narratives with a comedic touch.
Her GENERATION show Happy & Glorious explores themes of class and national identity at Glasgow’s Centre for Contemporary Arts.
It includes her films A Whole New World, The Lion and The Unicorn and Please, Sir… - a remarkable split-screen reworking of The Prince and the Pauper tale.
Born in Edinburgh in 1987, Maclean graduated from Edinburgh College of Art in 2009. She won the Glasgow Film Festival Margaret Tait Award in 2013 and lives and works in Glasgow.
-
![]()
The Maverick Generation
Kirsty Wark writes for BBC Arts about meeting some of the most influential GENERATION artists for Scotland’s Art Revolution: The Maverick Generation
About GENERATION
GENERATION is a showcase of some of the most important artists to come out of Scotland in the past 25 years. It brings together work by more than 100 artists to 60 galleries and exhibition spaces across the country.
Read more
It charts Scotland's creative development during a period which saw the country earn an international reputation as a centre for contemporary art. It produced countless award-winning artists and exhibitions.
The artists featured in GENERATION came to prominence while working in Scotland. They laid the foundations for the contemporary art scene that exists there today.
The aim of GENERATION is also to help cultivate a future generation of artists, with a education programmes and events to inspire young people.
The project is part of Culture 2014 - the Glasgow Commonwealth Games cultural programme. It is being held in partnership between the National Galleries of Scotland, Glasgow Life and Creative Scotland.
Find out more
Kirsty Wark meets...
-
![]()
Christine Borland
Going back to her hometown at the Dick Institute in Kilmarnock
-
![]()
Nathan Coley
Bringing the Lamp of Sacrifice to Glasgow Gallery of Modern Art
-
![]()
Alison Watt
From figures to fabric at Perth Museum & Art Gallery
-
![]()
Douglas Gordon
Pretty Much Every Film and Video Work comes to Glasgow
-
![]()
Rachel Maclean
Rachel Maclean gets into character at Glasgow's CCA
-
![]()
Ross Sinclair
Ross Sinclair on how he gets his creative juices flowing
Art and Artists
-
![]()
Homepage
The latest art and artist features, news stories, events and more from BBC Arts
-
![]()
A-Z of features
From Ackroyd and Blake to Warhol and Watt. Explore our Art and Artists features.
-
![]()
Video collection
From old Masters to modern art. Find clips of the important artists and their work
