Alasdair Gray’s striking wall design gets first showing at Glasgow underground

By TRISTAN STEWART–ROBERTSON
Published on 17/09/2012 02:07

RENOWNED author and artist Alasdair Gray has unveiled his latest work – a 12-metre wall at a refurbished Glasgow subway station.

The piece, which has no formal title, got a private viewing last night and will be seen by the public for the first time this morning at the Hillhead stop in the city’s west end.

It marks the completion of the first of 15 stations to be modernised under a £290 million programme to the world’s third-oldest subway system. Strathclyde Partnership for Transport commissioned the work, which took 14 months to complete, and said it was part of its commitment to “putting art at the heart” of overhauling the network.

Mr Gray, who has strong links to the west end, said: “The station is in the centre of Hillhead, which I know well. Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, the old BBC building with Botanic Gardens had been among my favourite places since the age of 11. I have lived and worked in the district since 1969, and I knew I would enjoy depicting it, and those who use the subway, in a symbolic and humorous way.

“This has been a highly detailed and complex work. My crazy vanity that wants to produce big and impressive things has carried on as usual, but I am happy with the outcome, and I hope others will enjoy it as well.”

Artist Nichol Wheatley and a team from his Perfect Circle Art group worked with Mr Gray and developed an approach to transfer the art to ceramic tiles that would suit the changing temperature conditions of the station and protect it from graffiti or damage.

Mr Wheatley said: “With 14 other stations to be modernised, there is a real opportunity to stimulate artistic vision and creativity, adding greatly to the weave and fabric of Glasgow.”