A life's artwork: 50 years of Andy Goldsworthy
For the past few weeks, he's been transporting pieces of art from the area in Dumfries and Galloway where he lives."To have this building to work with is a major moment for me as an artist," he explains."I don't think I've ever had an exhibition that has paralleled the work that I'm making in the landscape but because the RSA is less than two hours from where I live, it has become a dialogue, with everything intertwined."
Born in Cheshire in 1956, Andy Goldsworthy worked on farms in Yorkshire as a teenager, where he learned the skills which have become part of his process. Harrowing the fields, picking out and piling stones, cutting, digging and stacking. After studying art, he began photographing and filming these ephemeral creations.He has always risen to the challenge of working outdoors, adapting to the elements and adjusting to the material he finds. Staging such a major show inside has brought new challenges.Bureaucratic issues to overcome and a large-scale building which he's determined to work with, not against.A runner made from sheep fleeces, daubed with colours marking different farms, carpets the stairs leading up to the galleries. A sculpture made of discarded work gloves, worn and dusty, is glimpsed in a corner, leading to a slowly cracking clay wall, and a 20-metre-long Oak Passage made from discarded trees."The oak branches stand on an oak floor and that's not by chance," he says."It reveals that this was once a tree, I hope, in the minds of people who walk it."
The relationship between humans and land is a constant theme in his work. Fences and barriers feature prominently, including a rusted barbed wire piece which extends across an entire room."That wire fence is about the difficulties and obstructions which every artist has to face, especially one that works in the land."But it is also about finding a way through."Goldsworthy came to Scotland 40 years ago, and set up home in Dumfries and Galloway.South west Scotland, he says, was affordable and welcoming."I liked the right to roam, the openness of the farmers, and the ability to enjoy the land."
It was all those factors which made him stay, raising a family here, and creating a large body of work.He says the show is a tribute to all those who supported him."People have shown such openness and tolerance and they're the reason I've stayed. This exhibition is an acknowledgement of just how wonderful it has been, to show my appreciation of Scotland."
He continues to produce work, locally and globally, and one of the rooms hosts a very personal work in progress."My former wife Judith died in 2008 and when I was visiting her grave, I noticed there was a pile of stones by the cemetery wall. And I discovered they're found in every cemetery, displaced from digging graves," he says"So when a body goes into the earth, there are always some stones left over. There's an exchange between the body and the land and I thought that was very powerful."
He began to gather stones from hundreds of graveyards across the region."It took me two or three years to even touch them, they felt so special."The stones on display in the RSA will form part of a huge project he plans for the Lowther Hills."It'll be in a walled enclosure on top of a small hill, with beautiful views."It'll be a sea of humanity; a sea of stones and I hope it'll be spiritually uplifting."Andy Goldsworthy: 50 Years is a National Galleries Scotland exhibition at the Royal Scottish Academy building from 26 July to 2 November.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
I found my childhood diaries - people are surprised by what I did with them
Most people have kept a diary at some point in their lives. Whether it be to detail descriptions of their crush in school to logging burning aspirations of what they want to be when they grow up. There's no doubt that leafing through the pages years later can be met with a wave or nostalgia, heartbreaking sentiment or leave people cringing. But for actress Sarah Maria Lafferty when she stumbled upon old diaries she did something unexpected with them. She turned them into her craft. At this summer's Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Lafferty will perform a one-woman show called 'How to Become a Movie Star?' and bring the pages to life. Speaking to Daily Mail, ahead of the start of the festival on Friday, she revealed what it was like reading back through the diaries. 'What I found most surprising was how my core personality as a seven-year-old is so similar to me today. When I didn't get cast in the lead role as the princess in my debut play, but instead as princess #4, it really bothered me,' she said. 'However the core motivation was that I loved to perform and to be in the spotlight, so it was this primal desire to deliver when the lights are brightest which drove me to want the lead role,' she added. Lafferty, who previously lived in New York and is now a teacher in Dublin, has taken the funniest stories from her acting career and turned them into the show that she has written, produced and will star in. She draws on experiences from first being cast as that princess in the school play to appearing on Irish TV RTÉ 1 drama 'Seven Women' and performing on Broadway in 'Fáinne Óir' - a music and dance extravaganza choreographed by Riverdance star Ciara Sexton. 'How to Become a Movie Star?' is a comedy about the adventure of living an actor's life and follows its main character's unique plan to become a movie star by training to be a teacher. Lafferty kept a diary for much of her life, and it took months of sifting through the pages to find and rewrite the funniest parts of her story. Despite it being somewhat autobiographical Lafferty has changed the names of some of the characters. Lafferty said: 'I've a large collection of diaries and I'm always writing new entries. A few years back, it occurred to me that there were some funny stories that could make a play. 'I wanted to write a show that celebrates the pursuit of a dream. This isn't about an obsession with celebrity or fame, but about a love of acting and performance. 'I know it's a cliché, but for good reason, because life is about the journey and the pursuit of something special. I hope everyone in the audience can relate to chasing something seemingly impossible, but still enjoying the adventure. 'I'm often the butt of the joke myself, so I'm not afraid to own my mistakes, but that's what I think is relatable about the script,' she added. She added that against the backdrop of increasing social media, where people often record their thoughts, it is important to keep a diary as 'a unique way to make sense of your own life'. She said: 'I've always thoroughly enjoyed writing a diary. Whether it's a form of therapy, or just a historical record. 'There's something about a person's unique handwriting on paper, which is a form of communication that is uniquely enjoyable and personal.' Lafferty previously performed 'The Woman He Lived With' at the Fringe in 2022 and 'The Bad Daters' at the 2023 festival. 'How to Become a Movie Star?' will be shown at The Space @ Surgeons' Hall, Theatre 3 during the festival at 4pm on Aug 1-9, 11-16 and 18-23.
The Guardian
6 hours ago
- The Guardian
As an American in Scotland, I know we need many things – but Donald Trump isn't one of them
As an American comedian living in Scotland, I'm often asked: 'Krystal, why don't you talk about Trump more on stage? I'll bet that subject is rife for comedy!' Yesterday he was in Washington, today the schedule says Scotland. I know this visit isn't a personal attack on me, but woo boy, it sure does feel like it. I live in Edinburgh. But I didn't come to Scotland so I could be around the most annoying, unhinged, rich Americans in existence. There are many reasons I don't tend to talk about Donald Trump that much on stage. For one, that 10 to 20 seconds in the morning before I remember who occupies the position of president of the United States is honestly the best part of my day. And those few precious moments I savour will not be present for me over the next four days, because the aura of Trump's presence will permeate my consciousness, not to mention all the major news outlets, with everyone giving their very strong opinions on this man who has managed to inflame humanity more than anyone in all of our collective living memory. And what's more, he doesn't seem to care. But it sure does feel like he wants Scotland to love him, doesn't it? He desperately wants to be embraced as Scottish. His mother was born on the Isle of Lewis, so I suppose that's something. But the truth is, he's just like any other American who comes to Scotland on holiday. I love asking American tourists what brings them to Scotland, because they always say the same thing. 'Well, actually you see … I'm Scottish. And I'm tracing my roots.' And I always say to them: 'Wow. You should definitely tell every Scottish person you meet that. Watch out, because you're going to be so popular.' If I had to find an upside to Trump visiting, and there aren't many, I'd say at least it makes me look good in comparison. It's the same reason I love having English people at Scottish gigs. I once dated a Scottish guy who said to me: 'Don't worry Krystal, I hate the English way more than I hate the Americans.' What an absolute sweetheart. And the thing is, as much as I hate to admit it, I know where Trump is coming from when he expresses a small need for Scotland to accept him. Because I feel the same. I love Scotland. I've had my kids here (and not just because it's free and I can't pass up a deal). I will always live here. I just know it. I've never lived anywhere longer than I've lived in Scotland. I have a lot in common with many Scots I encounter. I've been drinking heavily my entire life and yet for some reason, still can't hold my liquor. I buy those weird little flat barbecues and burn a hole in the grass right under the 'no barbecuing' sign. I've even accidentally said 'aye' unironically more than once. Why don't I talk about Trump more in my comedy? Honestly, I've lived here so long I know more about Nicola Sturgeon and the reintroduction of wolves than any of Trump's day-to-day blunders. So he's here, and nearly every person I've told that I'm writing this article has warned me that I'll probably be monitored and put on some government list of scary, threatening comedians and writers who are flagged as they try to enter the US for saying unfavourable things about Trump. I guess we'll just have to see how that goes. It's difficult to put into words the way his visit truly makes me feel, but I know who could. Nine years ago, during another visit by Trump, the late comedian Janey Godley knew exactly what to do. A one-woman protest, with a very very sweary sign making clear her absolute disdain for the would-be president. Humour and rebellion. Mutiny. Her act of defiance went around the world. With Trump in Scotland, on his golf course at Turnberry, Godley knew that no long, flowery language was needed. No 1,000-word opinion pieces. (Though she could smash those, too.) Mr President, you probably don't even know who Janey Godley is. Which is one of the many reasons you will never, ever be Scottish. But she crafted those beautiful four sweary words saying exactly what she thought of you. She expressed in perfect, poignant prose what so many of us feel down to the marrow of our bones. I won't quote her directly, of course, but we all know it. I'm sure you'll enjoy your time here, protected by Scottish police and security. Playing golf and speaking with other powerful men. Enjoying the delicious Scottish tap water. And you're allowed to do that, I guess. But we don't have to like it. Krystal Evans is an American comedian who lives in Scotland. Her latest show, A Star is Burnt, is at the Edinburgh festival fringe 2025
Daily Mail
7 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Top violinist Nicola Benedetti confirms she IS married to jazz musician 25 years her senior who she met when she was just 17 - and they have a baby daughter
Top violinist Nicola Benedetti has confirmed she is married to a jazz musician 25 years her senior who she met when she was just 17 years old. The 38-year-old was introduced to celebrated jazz musician Wynton Marsalis, 63, more than 21 years ago in New York when she attended the American Academy of Achievement summit as a student-delegate. At the time, the Scottish violinist was just 17 years old, while Mr Marsalis, of New Orleans, was 42. Speaking publicly about their relationship for the first time, Ms Benedetti, of Ayrshire, has revealed she was a 'huge fan' of the American trumpeter when they initially crossed paths. Having formed a 'certain type of kinship', she said that the pair initially remained 'good friends' for several years, despite their large age gap. They then began a romantic relationship several years later, with the couple welcoming their first child together, a daughter, in May 2024. Now, speaking to The Telegraph about the decision to keep their relationship private for so many years, Ms Benedetti said: 'I don't tend to discuss my private life because people don't come to my concerts because of whom I'm in a relationship with. 'They come because I play the violin'. Ms Benedetti, 38, met celebrated jazz musician Wynton Marsalis, 63, (both pictured) more than 21 years ago in New York when she attended the American Academy of Achievement summit as a student-delegate Mr Marsalis has four other children - two sons, Wynton Jr. and Simeon, with former partner Candace Stanley, a third son, Jasper, whom he shares with actress Victoria Rowell, alongside a daughter, Oni, who he has publicly collaborated with. As a key figure in the 1980s jazz renaissance, he often been referred to as the 'Pied Piper' of Jazz, accumulating up to nine Grammy awards across a career spanning over four decades. Meanwhile, Ms Benedetti, who has strong Italian roots, won the title of BBC Young Musician in 2004 when she was 16 and became the youngest ever recipient of the Queen's Medal for Music in 2017. She shared with The Telegraph that since having a child, she has begun to question elements of her upbringing. Both her and her older sister would be required to practise the violin for up to three hours on a daily basis during the summer holidays. Adding that her 'strict' childhood meant both her and her sister 'feared upsetting our parents', the Scots performer added that she believes the young people of today often 'lack basic discipline in their daily lives'. In 2015, Mr Marsalis composed a violin concerto specifically for Ms Benedetti titled 'Violin Concerto in D', premiered at London's Barbican Centre. The piece, widely considered one of the most popular and beloved violin concertos in the classical repertoire, was described as 'taking inspiration from Ms Benedetti's life as a travelling performer and educator who enlightens and delights communities'. But Ms Benedetti and Mr Marsalis said they could hardly remember who came up with the initial idea, joking in a joint interview: 'It's like a scene from When Harry Met Sally. I don't know if I said it or if she said it.' The couple welcomed their first child, a daughter, in May 2024. Pictured: Ms Benedetti and Mr Marsalis. Pictured: the pair at a reception to celebrate the most talented jazz musicians in London on May 9, 2024 Ms Benedetti, who has strong Italian roots, won the title of BBC Young Musician in 2004 when she was 16 and became the youngest ever recipient of the Queen's Medal for Music in 2017. Just after giving birth in 2024, she was seen attending events with her new-born baby in tow (pictured) Meanwhile, in an interview with the LA Times in 2016, Ms Benedetti gushed about the piece, remarking that the sound was 'truly wild and so quintessentially him', while Mr Marsalis said the favourite part of the concerto for him was simply 'Nicola's sound'. Adding: 'I just like her sound'. In the years following, the pair continued to collaborate on numerous projects. In 2023, Ms Benedetti became the first woman and the first Scot to be appointed director of the Edinburgh International Festival, which takes place every August. Announcing her pregnancy in March 2024, Ms Benedetti told the Times that she was feeling 'positive' and 'excited', adding: 'There is so much unknown. Flexibility will be the aim of the game in the next little while and plenty of support.' In May 2025, nine months after her daughter's birth, she revealed that becoming a mother had 'definitely' changed her and given her a more relaxed attitude to the perfectionism that drove her to international fame. In an interview with Richard Morrison for The Times, she said: 'Throughout my life I have been so concerned with what could happen, or what did happen, or what could have been done better. 'I used to analyse again and again every note of the performance I'd just done, or the recording I'd just made. 'So I was always living either in the past or the future. Since my daughter was born, I have learnt to live in the present and just be grateful to be here.' She also added: 'I've not done any big concerts since giving birth. Just a bit of playing in the [Edinburgh] Festival and one or two small private concerts.' However, just weeks after giving birth, she was seen attending events with her new-born baby in tow, including promoting Scottish Opera's Oedipus Rex with her daughter in a sling. She also took her daughter with her when she appeared on BBC Radio 4's Today Show where she discussed funding for the arts and performed violin piece Ashokan Farewell by Jay Ungar. Mr Marsalis currently serves as the artistic director of Jazz at the Lincoln Center, in New York, the site of where the pair first met all those years ago. In January 2009, he performed to President Obama alongside an exclusive crowd of 100 guests at his inauguration party. Meanwhile, Ms Benedetti also serves as founder of music education charity The Benedetti Foundation, which has inspired more than 100,000 young musicians. In March 2024, the foundation responded to the news of Ms Benedetti's pregnancy in a celebratory post that read: 'We are so thrilled for our founder and artistic director Nicky Benedetti who has announced she is expecting a baby in May. Huge congratulations and much love from all of the foundation team.' On BBC Radio Scotland series Stark Talk in 2019, Ms Benedetti spoke about having children, stating: 'My sister's married now and in a very kind of settled place in her life, but she's 35, and a lot of my friends are in similar circumstances. They live in a house with a partner and have children or are going to have children, and obviously I'm not at that point yet.' Asked in a 2022 interview with The Times if she would like to have children, she was quoted as saying: 'If I am fortunate enough to be able to, yes I hope so.'
