Above All Else

Nipped out at lunchtime to visit the Scottish National Gallery at the Mound.

They have an exhibition of Scottish contemporary work from the last 25 years. Modern art is a bit of a hit or a miss for me. Some of it is just silly and I just don't understand it. But other pieces are very thought provoking, and clever. They leave a distinct impression.

There are some wonderful pieces on display and it makes a nice lunchtime change.

The piece in the foreground is by an artist (younger than me!) Douglas Gordon. He places pieces of text on walls and ceilings. This piece is taken from a quote from Hamlet "This above all: to thine own self be true". It also has a number of other meanings. It has a literal meaning, also it is a Millwall football club chant, but also refers to Christian belief that we are all tainted with original sin.

The blue splash refers to when Martin Luther was translating the bible and it was said the devil appeared to disturb his sacred work. He threw an ink pot at him.

Clever eh!?