It is 100 years since Eduardo Paolozzi was born, and Modern Two are staging an exhibition over the next three months to celebrate the centenary.
The work of Leith born artist Sir Eduardo Paolozzi is found in many places in Edinburgh, notably the sculpture The Manuscript of Montecassino outside St Mary’s Cathedral on Picardy Place. This represents the horror of war with disembodied hands. The work was gifted to the cathedral by Sir Tom and Lady Anne Farmer.
In the garden at Modern Two the Master of the Universe sits on guard near the gate, and inside his Vulcan and the Clash Castle Ceiling Panels are on permanent display. The café is named after the British pop artist of whom Edinburgh is rightly very proud.
And until recently there was an example of Paolozzi’s sculpture in Edinburgh Park at the former RBS building entitled The Wealth of Nations.
Elsewhere the artist designed the mosaic for Tottenham Court Road Underground Station and his Newton is outside the British Library.
But he was much more than just a sculptor. Paolozzi at 100 is a tribute to the father of Pop Art. Taking over the ground floor of Modern Two in Edinburgh, this free exhibition takes visitors on a journey through some of Paolozzi’s most popular artworks, including his collages, prints, textiles, ceramics and sculpture.
Of Italian descent, Paolozzi was born in Edinburgh’s Leith in 1924, and is a much-loved son of the city. He studied in Edinburgh and London before spending two years in Paris. There he produced enigmatic, bronze sculptures and dada and surrealist-inspired collages that combined magazine advertisements with cartoons and machine parts. Returning to London to teach at several art schools, Paolozzi continued to develop his printmaking and sculpture techniques, with a particular interest in the mass media and in science and technology, developing a style that would become known as Pop Art.
Paolozzi was knighted in 1989 and gifted a major bequest of his works to the National Galleries of Scotland in 1995. As well as the exhibition there is his London studio on permanent display, and all is accompanied by an eight stop audio guide on Smartify.
Anne Lyden, Director-General at the National Galleries of Scotland said: “Eduardo Paolozzi is one of
Scotland’s best-known artists and was an Edinburgh icon. His powerful influence can still be seen
across the city today in everything from sculptures and architecture to fashion to food and drink
brands. The National Galleries of Scotland is delighted to be celebrating his 100th birthday with an
exhibition that brings together 60 key Paolozzi works from Scotland’s national collection. We hope
everyone will take the opportunity to enjoy this free glimpse into the phenomenal art that is Paolozzi
at 100.”
- Paolozzi at 100
- National Galleries Scotland: Modern Two
- 27 January – 21 April 2024
- Admission Free
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
