The Force and Form of Memory

We are very excited about this exhibition. What happens when you ask a group of creative and imaginative artists to explore the theme of Memory? You’ll probably get a myriad of different answers. Perhaps a family holiday, the lyrics of a song, a trip to the theatre, a feeling of peace in a familiar place, a loved friend or relative losing their memory, a story from the past, your favourite comfy chair, the day that we won the Cup, wartime reminiscences. We selected and invited a group of 76 artists from across Scotland, and some from further afield, to create a special work with their own interpretation of the theme. The artists vary greatly in style, age and background. Amongst those participating, there are established Royal Scottish Academicians, senior art school lecturers, full time painters, sculptors and recent graduates. Some work in bronze, some in glass, others are figurative or surrealist painters and printmakers. So the interpretations of the theme could be very wide apart. Anything from narrative to a psychological study, a visual metaphor or treasured reminiscence. In fact the exhibition could be quite a surprise package as much to us as to you, ranging from the obvious and predictable to the somewhat unexpected. Each specially chosen artist has his or her own individual response to the topic, creating a lasting sensory and visual experience for the onlooker. There will be humour, melancholy, pathos, fear, happiness, joy and all the emotions that make up the human spirit. The response of these artists has been fantastic, with many saying that the subject was inspirational, touching them in a personal sense. The works in this exhibition explore ‘The Force and Form of Memory’ and the impact it has on our lives. The Arts play a vitally important role, enhancing the quality of our day to day lives. However, their importance as cognitive decline sets in for people with dementia is not yet really understood or appreciated. Often a person who may not have spoken for a long time, may suddenly remember a past event or person. This sudden return of memory can be triggered by seeing an image, an object, or even hearing a particular piece of music. Compass Gallery is working in partnership with Alzheimer Scotland, raising awareness of the importance of creating today’s memories, which will become future reminiscences, and the impact that memory-loss related illness have on the lives of those affected by dementia. All works are for sale. Compass Gallery’s commission will be shared with Alzheimer Scotland. We hope that you will come along and see, hopefully purchase from this fascinating exhibition. The exhibition will be touring throughout Scotland, and may vary slightly from venue to venue. Please contact the gallery for further details.