Rebecca Ronald will be the first artist/maker, whose work is featured in an exciting new series of exhibitions to be held in the craft gallery at An Tuireann. The series has been devised to showcase work carefully selected as representative of what is considered to be the most innovative and exceptional in craft, in terms of chosen materials, techniques and design.

An Tuireann will be one of the first venues to feature the work selected, so these exhibitions offer visitors to the centre the chance to see what is emerging at the leading edge of contemporary craft, whilst offering practitioner/makers the opportunity to show selected work in the hub for contemporary visual arts and craft on the west coast of Scotland.

Ronald’s art explores the mythological archetype of the mermaid. Fascinated with Celtic myth and fairytale, she is moved by their poignant, tragic and often enigmatic quality, whilst also intrigued by the challenging and unsettling feminine archetypes such as the mermaid. Half-human, half-seal or fish, ethereal yet sexually enfleshed, they challenge our separation from the natural world and threaten our distinct human identity. Like MacLeod’s Maidens off Idrigill Point, they remind us of our mortal fragility. These giant rocks rising up out of the sea, embody the treacherous and overwhelming force of nature.

Ronald’s work seeks to problematise the division between nature/culture, spirit/flesh, mind/body and masculine/feminine: “in appropriating the image of the human head, often identified as the source of spiritual ascendance and reason, I conflate this with the fish head and other associative images of transience, such as rust, sand, bone and paper. In proffering the beauty of transience I wish to acknowledge our material existence and the interdependence of flesh and reason.”


Little Mermaid will be on show from 19 August until 29 September 2006 at the Craft Gallery at An Tuireann Arts Centre, Struan Road, Portree, Isle of Skye. 01478 613306 craft@antuireann.org.uk   www.antuireann.org.uk