Document Scotland: The Ties that Bind

Surprising exhibition at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery by the photographic group Document Scotland examining Scottish identity following the referendum.

It consisted of four sets of pictures, one by each of the group looking at different aspects of Scottish life and history. I will admit I did go expecting it to be a bit dull and worthy but it was really interesting and highlighted different aspects of Scottish life.

Stephen McLaren looked at the legacy of the slave trade in Scotland contrasting where the men who made the money came from and where it was made. This included a nice set off portraits of people in the West Indies with Scottish surnames which had probably derived from their ancestors being the property of plantations owned by Scots men.

Colin McPherson looked at the rituals of football and particularly at the lower league Scottish clubs. These were poignant pictures of empty dilapidated terraces and devoted men. The names of the grounds were the sounds of final score on a Saturday afternoon, Cowdenbeath, Alloa Athletic etc.!

Sophie Gerrard looked at the landscape through the eyes of six women farmers and shepherds creating set of photographs of them and their lives usually with a portrait of them alongside pictures of their land and their homes.

Finally Jeremy Sutton looked at the old festival of Common Ridings which still take place in the border regions of Scotland where a banner is carried round the boundaries of the town by Braw Lassies and Honest Lads or Left  Hand Lassie and Right Hand Lads. Looking at the pictures of them they had a strange look of prom kings and queen photos and it did leave me speculating how many romances had blossomed between the Lassies and the Lads!

Closes on 24 April 2015.

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