A painting celebrating Gaelic culture in Glasgow has been unveiled.

The distinguished painter Alexander “Sandy” Moffat – who was artist-in-residence to the Royal National Mòd 2019 – has created an impressive artwork inspired by Gaelic culture at the festival and the vibrant health of Gaelic medium education in the city.

The painting was commissioned by Glasgow Life in partnership with the University of Glasgow and The Hunterian, to celebrate the Mòd’s return to Clydeside for the first time since 1990. As artist in residence during the October festival, Sandy Moffat OBE RSA immersed himself in the atmosphere and events, and spent time researching the city’s Gaelic past and present.

He then spent several weeks working on a huge, 6ft x 5ft canvas, which includes references to Gaelic history and culture, both in Glasgow and across Scotland. The finished work will be unveiled at the City Halls this Saturday as part of Celtic Connections.

Tha dealbh a tha a’ comharrachadh cultar na Gàidhlig ann an Glaschu gu bhith air a foillseachadh Disathairne, 18 Faoilleach. Tha am ealainear ainmeil Alasdair “Sandy” Moffat – a bha na neach-ealain air mhuinntearas aig a’ Mhòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail 2019 – air obair-ealain dhrùidhteach a chruthachadh a bha air a bhrosnachadh tro chultar na Gàidhlig aig an fhèis agus tron t-suidheachadh beòthail foghlaim tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig sa bhaile.

Chaidh an dealbh a choimiseanadh le Glaschu Beò ann an com-pàirteachas le Gailearaidh an Hunterian agus Oilthigh Ghlaschu, gus tilleadh a’ Mhòid gu Bruachan Chluaidh a chomharrachadh airson a’ chiad uair bho 1990. Mar neach-ealain air mhuinntearas tron fhèis san Dàmhair, chuir Sandy Moffat OBE RSA e fhèin am bogadh san t-suidheachadh agus sna tachartasan, agus chuir e seachad ùine a’ rannsachadh Gàidhlig sa bhaile san àm a dh’fhalbh agus gu làithreach.

Chuir e seachad grunn sheachdainean an uair sin ag obair air canbhas fìor mhòr 6tr x 5tr, anns a bheil iomradh air eachdraidh is cultar na Gàidhlig an dà chuid ann an Glaschu agus air feadh Alba. Thèid an obair chrìochnaichte sin fhoillseachadh ann an Tallachan a’ Bhaile Disathairne seo a’ tighinn, mar phàirt de Celtic Connections.

 

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Celebrated for his own famous works, including Poets’ Pub and Scotland’s Voices, Moffat is also a former head of painting and printmaking at the Glasgow School of Art, who is widely credited with igniting the resurgence of figurative painting in the city by inspiring future greats such as Peter Howson, Alison Watt and Ken Currie.

Speaking about his Mòd commission, Sandy Moffat said: “There were two starting points. The first was a dish towel I bought at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall during the Mòd. The design was based on a medieval map dating from when Glasgow was primarily Gaelic-speaking, showing the Gaelic place names for all the districts of the city.

“The second influence was Gaelic education. After the Mòd finished, I visited the Glasgow Gaelic School in Berkeley Street, and was really impressed by the whole atmosphere of the school.”

Moffat was struck by the children’s grasp of the language and by the creative atmosphere within the school. “It was a blaze of colour,” he recalls, mentioning the décor, artworks on the walls and even the children’s bright red sweatshirts. “It was like walking into a Matisse painting,” he laughs. That vibe is evident in his effervescent finished work, which draws both from the city map and from his school visit.

The new painting also makes reference to William McTaggart’s famous painting, The Sailing Of The Emigrant Ship, which reflected on the draining away of the Highlands and Hebrides population during the Highland Clearances. And while Moffat says he “loved every minute” of his artist-in-residency, which left him feeling “very optimistic about the future of Gaelic in Glasgow”, he adds that there are still challenges.

The Royal National Mòd, Scotland’s premier Gaelic cultural festival, took place in Glasgow from October 11-19, 2019. Before that, it had last been held in Glasgow in 1990, during its year as European City of Culture. Three decades on, Gaelic – which has been spoken in the city for centuries – is flourishing. In fact, Glasgow is home to the largest number of Gaelic speakers outwith the Highlands and Islands and a growing number of citizens are speaking it, learning it and participating in Gaelic cultural events. Last summer, the revival was accentuated with Niall O’Gallagher’s appointment as the first ever Bàrd Baile Ghlaschu (Glasgow’s City Gaelic Poet Laureate).

Niall O’Gallagher read a poem at City Halls, where Moffat’s painting was unveiled. The event  also include a performance showcasing the University’s innovative Gaelic Song In Performance course.

Councillor David McDonald, Depute Leader of Glasgow City Council and Chair of Glasgow Life says: “It will be fascinating to find out how the 2019 Mòd, and Gaelic culture in Glasgow has been depicted by an artist as renowned as Sandy Moffat, whose work has motivated generations of artists. I’m sure this wonderful new painting will be a real celebration of Glasgow’s proud Gaelic roots and an inspiration to our growing, youthful, vibrant community of Glaswegian Gaels.”

Professor Roibeard Ó Maolalaigh, Professor of Gaelic, Vice-Principal and Head of the College of Arts at the University of Glasgow, says: “Sandy Moffat’s colourful painting artfully captures both aspects of the past and future of Gaelic in the environs of Glasgow, its deep historical roots as well as the hopes for the future. The University of Glasgow is at the forefront of Gaelic research, development and education supporting the growing numbers of Gaelic learners as well as Scotland’s traditional Gaelic communities. We were delighted to support this creative work showcasing the vibrancy of Gaelic in Glasgow.”

The Hunterian Deputy Director Mungo Campbell says: “The Hunterian is delighted to have been able to work with colleagues at the University of Glasgow and Glasgow Life to support this commission. Sandy Moffat’s painting commemorates wonderfully an important moment for the language and communities associated with Gaelic in Glasgow.”

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Air a chomharrachadh airson obair chliùiteach fhèin, a’ gabhail a-steach Poets’ Pub agus Scotland’s Voices, b’ àbhaist dha Moffat a bhith na cheannard ealain is clò-bhualaidh ann an Sgoil Ealain Ghlaschu, agus tha e gu mòr air a chreideasachadh airson aiseirigh ann an ealain shamhlachail sa bhaile a phiobrachadh, le bhith a’ brosnachadh luchd-ealain ainmeil an latha an-diugh mar Peter Howson, Alison Watt agus Ken Currie.

A’ labhairt mu choimisean a’ Mhòid, tha Sandy Moffat ag ràdh: “Bha dà àite tòiseachaidh agam. B’ e tubhailt shoithichean a’ chiad fhear, a cheannaich mi ann an Talla Cuirme Rìoghail Ghlaschu aig àm a’ Mhòid. Bha an dealbhadh stèidhichte air mapa meadhan-aoiseil a’ dol air ais gu nuair a bha Gàidhlig air a labhairt ann am mòr-chuid ann an Glaschu, a’ sealltainn ainmean-àite ann an Gàidhlig do gach sgìre sa bhaile.

“B’ e foghlam Gàidhlig an dàrna buaidh. An dèidh don Mhòd crìochnachadh, thadhail mi air Sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu air Sràid Berkeley, agus bha mi air mo dhrùidheadh leis an fhaireachdainn iomlan san sgoil.”

Bha Moffat air a ghlacadh le comas na cloinne sa chànan agus leis an t-suidheachadh chruthachail taobh a-staigh na sgoile. “Bha e na bhoillsgeadh mòr de dhath,” tha e a’ cuimhneachadh, a’ toirt iomradh air an sgeadas, obair-ealain air na ballachan agus fiù lèintean dearga soilleir nan sgoilearan. “Bha e coltach ri bhith a’ coiseachd a-steach do dhealbh-peantaidh le Matisse,” thuirt e. Tha am faireachdainn sin follaiseach na obair chrìochnaichte dheàlrach a tha a’ tarraing bhon dà chuid mapa a’ bhaile agus a thuras don sgoil.

Tha an dealbh ùr cuideachd a’ toirt iomradh air an dealbh-peantaidh ainmeil aig Uilleam Mac an t-Sagairt, The Sailing Of The Emigrant Ship, a bha a’ meòrachadh air an t-sìoladh air falbh air muinntir na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean aig Àm nam Fuadaichean. Agus ged a tha Moffat ag ràdh “gun d’ fhuair e tlachd às gach tiotan” de a mhuinntearas, a dh’fhàg e a’ faireachdainn “glè dhòchasach mu Ghàidhlig san àm ri teachd ann an Glaschu”, ach tha e ag ràdh gu bheil dùbhlain ann fhathast”.

Ghabh am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail, prìomh fhèis chultarach Ghàidhlig na h-Alba, àite ann an Glaschu bho 11-19 Dàmhair 2019. Ron a sin, chaidh an fhèis a chumail ann an Glaschu ann an 1990, sa bhliadhna mar Bhaile Cultair na h-Eòrpa. Trì deicheadan de bhliadhnaichean às dèidh sin, tha a’ Ghàidhlig – a tha air a bhith ga labhairt sa bhaile fad linntean – a’ soirbheachadh. Ann an da-rìribh, tha Glaschu na dhachaigh don àireamh as motha de luchd-labhairt na Gàidhlig taobh a-muigh na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean agus tha àireamh a tha a’ sìor fhàs de shaoranaich Ghlaschu ga labhairt, ga h-ionnsachadh agus a’ com-pàirteachadh ann an tachartasan cultarach. As t-samhradh a chaidh, dhaingnicheadh an ath-bheothachadh sin tro fhastadh air Niall O’Gallagher mar a’ chiad Bàrd Baile Ghlaschu a-riamh. (Prìomh Bhàrd Gàidhlig Baile Ghlaschu).

Leughaidh Niall O’Gallagher dàn ann an Tallachan a’ Bhaile far a bheil dealbh-peantaidh Moffat gu bhith air a foillseachadh. Rè an tachartais bidh gnìomhadh àrd-ùrlair a’ taisbeanadh cùrsa ùr-ghnàthach Òrain Ghàidhlig is Coileanadh bho Oilthigh Ghlaschu.

Thuirt an Comhairliche Daibhidh Dòmhnallach, Iar-Stiùiriche Comhairle Baile Ghlaschu agus Cathraiche Ghlaschu Beo: “Bidh e iongnantach fhaicinn mar a tha am Mòd 2019 agus cultar na Gàidhlig ann an Glaschu, air a nochdadh le neach-ealain cho ainmeil ri Sandy Moffat, le obair a tha air ginealaichean de luchd-ealain a bhrosnachadh. Tha mi cinnteach gum bi an dealbh ùr mhìorbaileach seo na fìor chomharrachadh air freumhan Gàidhlig uailleil Ghlaschu agus na brosnachadh do ar coimhearsnachd bheòthail òg de Ghàidheil Ghlaschu, a tha a’ sìor fhàs.”

Thuirt an t-Àrd-Ollamh Roibeard Ó Maolalaigh, Àrd-Ollamh na Gàidhlig, Iar-Phrionnsapal agus Ceannard Cholaiste nan Ealain ann an Oilthigh Ghlaschu: “Tha dealbh dhathach Sandy Moffat a’ glacadh gu h-ealanta an dà chuid seallaidhean den àm a dh’fhalbh agus den àm a tha ri teachd don Ghàidhlig ann agus mu thimcheall Ghlaschu, a freumhan domhainn eachdraidheil a thuilleadh air dòchasan mu choinneamh an ama ri teachd. Tha Oilthigh Ghlaschu aig fìor aghaidh rannsachaidh, leasachaidh agus foghlam Gàidhlig, a’ cur taic ris na h-àireamhan de luchd-ionnsachaidh na Gàidhlig a tha a’ sìor fhàs a thuilleadh air coimhearsnachdan traidiseanta na h-Alba. Bha sinn air leth toilichte taic a chur is an obair chruthachail seo a tha a’ taisbeanadh beòthalachd na Gàidhlig ann an Glaschu.”

Tha Mungo Caimbeul, Iar-Stiùiriche an Hunterian, ag ràdh: “Tha an Hunterian air leth toilichte cothrom fhaotainn air a bhith ag obair le co-obraichean ann an Oilthigh Ghlaschu agus Glaschu Beò gus taic a chur ris a’ choimisean seo. Tha dealbh Sandy Moffat a’ co-chuimhneachadh gu h-iongantach àm cudromach don chànan agus do na coimhearsnachdan co-cheangailte ris a’ Ghàidhlig ann an Glaschu.”

 

Alexander "Sandy" Moffat/Alasdair "Sandy" Moffat

About Alexander Moffat - As head of painting and printmaking at Glasgow School of Art until 1985, Alexander “Sandy ” Moffat was credited with igniting the resurgence of figurative painting in the city by inspiring future greats such as Peter Howson, Alison Watt and Ken Currie. His own work was celebrated in 2018 with the publication of Facing The Nation: The Portraiture of Alexander Moffat, a landmark book by art historian Bill Hare.

Mu Alasdair Moffat – Mar cheannard ealain is clò-bhualaidh ann an Sgoil Ealain Ghlaschu gu 1985, chaidh Alasdair “Sandy ” Moffat a chreideasachadh le aiseirigh air peantadh samhlachail a phiobrachadh sa bhaile, le bhith a’ brosnachadh luchd-ealain den àm ri teachd mar Peter Howson, Alison Watt agus Ken Currie. Chaidh an obair aige fhèin a chomharrachadh ann an 2018 le foillseachadh air Facing The Nation: The Portraiture of Alexander Moffat, leabhar àrd-chomharrachail leis an neach-eachdraidh ealain, Bill Hare. 

Exhibition/Taisbeanadh

The dish towel which helped inspire Sandy Moffat’s new work was produced by the University of Glasgow as part of a range of merchandise celebrating recent research into Glasgow’s medieval Gaelic place-names. This research also features in the University’s current exhibition, “GUGA: Exploring Gaelic Identities”, which is on at The Hunterian Art Gallery until 2 February, 2020. Details of the GUGA exhibition can be found here - https://www.gla.ac.uk/hunterian/visit/exhibitions/exhibitionprogramme/guga/

Chaidh an tubhailt shoithichean a chuidich le obair ùr Sandy Moffat a bhrosnachadh, a thoirt gu buil le Oilthigh Ghlaschu mar phàirt de raon bathair a’ comharrachadh rannsachadh às ùr air ainmean-àite Gàidhlig meadhan-aoiseil Ghlaschu. Tha an rannsachadh seo cuideachd a’ nochdadh ann an taisbeanadh làithreach an Oilthighe, “GUGA: Exploring Gaelic Identities”, a tha ri fhaicinn ann an Gailearaidh Ealain an Hunterian gu 2 Gearran 2020. Gheibhear mion-fhiosrachadh mu thaisbeanadh GUGA an seo https://www.gla.ac.uk/hunterian/visit/exhibitions/exhibitionprogramme/guga/

First published: 20 January 2020

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