Artists lined up for once in a Generation project

The landmark series of exhibitions will celebrate 25 years of contemporary art in Scotland. Picture: Ian Rutherford

The £2 million celebration of visual art produced in Scotland over the past 25 years is now under way and will run until the end of October at venues ranging from top galleries and museums to remote arts centres.

Scotland’s celebrated Turner Prize winners and nominees will be rubbing shoulders will some of the rising stars of the visual arts scene in the countrywide celebration, which is being staged to coincide with Glasgow’s hosting of the Commonwealth Games.

Among the best-known artists involved are Alison Watt, Douglas Gordon, Graham Fagen and Kenny Hunter.

Glasgow Life, which runs the city’s public galleries and boasts its main art collection, has joined forces with the National Galleries of Scotland (NGS) to stage the initiative.

Among the highlights of the programme in Glasgow will be shows by Kenny Hunter at House for An Art Lover, Rachel Maclean at the CCA, Douglas Gordon at the Gallery of Modern Art, Graham Fagen at Glasgow School of Art and Richard Wright at the Modern Institute.

Generation, which has been in the planning by Glasgow Life and the NGS for several years, is thought to be the biggest visual arts project undertaken in a single country anywhere in the world.

A spokeswoman said: “The scale, ambition and geographical reach of Generation make it the first project of its kind.

“It will be one of the most ambitious celebrations of contemporary art ever held by a single nation, and aims to reach and build new audiences for contemporary art.”

Iain Munro, chair of the Generation Partnership which is overseeing the nationwide art show, said: “With the full programme now in place we are confident that Generation will provide unprecedented opportunities to experience some of the very best contemporary art from Scotland, to celebrate the story of the last 25 years and to look to the future.”

Although the majority of exhibitions will be staged over the summer, a rolling programme will see a host of shows open in Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Kirkcaldy, the Isle of Mull, Thurso, Ayr, Kilmarnock and Dumfries by the end of May.

A centrepiece of Generation will be a huge exhibition to be staged across the three main NGS sites in Edinburgh – the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art and Scottish National Gallery – featuring more than 30 different artists.

Full details of Generation are available at www.generationartscotland.org

THE HIGHLIGHTS

Jim Lambie Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh, 27 June-19 October: The first major solo exhibition devoted to the Glasgow artist, best known for his use of everyday objects such as records, mirrors and magazines.

Nick Evans, The McManus, Dundee, 20 June-31 August: Best known for his organically-shaped white plaster sculptures, the Zambian artist’s latest work will be inspired by the Gothic architecture of the city’s flagship gallery and its collections.

Dalziel & Scullion, An Lanntair, Isle of Lewis, 6 July-31 August: The Dundee-based artists draw inspiration from the landscape of the Western Isles for a major new piece of work examining the relationship between mankind and the natural world.

Rachel Maclean, CCA, Glasgow, 31 May-13 July: Issued of national identity, class, patriotism, imperalism and social status are explored in the exhibition Happy and Glorius, which takes its title from Britain’s National Anthem.

Kenny Hunter, House of an Art Lover, Glasgow, 4 July-4 September: The celebrated sculptor presents a selection of new and existing works - made out of wood, plastic, iron and bronze - stacked and arranged with their packing cases.

Nathan Coley GOMA Glasgow, 15 May-1 February. A revival of Coley’s Lamp of Sacrifice, models of the 286 “places of worship” he found in the 2004 Edinburgh Yellow Pages.

Douglas Gordon GOMA Glasgow, 27 June-28 September: The 1996 Turner Prize winner will stage an “electric installation” across 100 TVs of film and video work created over two decades.

Alison Watt Perth Museum & Art Gallery, 7 June-28 September: The development of the Greenock artist, including portraits, fabric subjects and new material.

Lorna Macintyre Mount Stuart, Isle of Bute, 6 July-31 October: Macintyre will create new work responding to the “unique atmosphere” of the Victorian neo-Gothic mansion.

Stephen Hurrel Timespan, Helmsdale: 6 June-3 August: Hurrel will create work out of a trip by fishing boats to explore the seascapes, sounds and histories of folk along Scotland’s northerly coasts.