Yumpu_ May_June 2017_02

Tanera Ar Dùthaich
Kevin Percival
His Exhibition at the
Rhue Art Gallery
My project depicts the intricacies of living
and working in a rural community as well as
exploring the continually-evolving relationship
between people and the landscape in
such areas. Tanera refers to the Summer
Isles archipelago, familiar to regular readers
of this magazine. Ar Dùthaich is a Gaelic
term concerning territory that is homeland
to a clan or kinship group.
I started this work while living and
working on the island. Now five years later,
I have gathered sufficient images to tell the
story. My intention was to elaborate on the
difficulties associated with living in remote
communities typical of the Highlands &
Islands, exploring widely-held romantic
notions about the Scottish landscape,
while also trying to get under the surface
of everyday experiences.
The images attempt to show a ‘portrait of
place’ through views, details and portraits of
the people who contribute to the location.
I have long been fascinated by the ways in
which humans leave marks evident within
the landscape; a calling card of their
existence. Over time these traces build-up,
layered on top of one another forming a kind
of catalogue of existence, like a palimpsest.
This becomes particularly evident in
smaller, self-contained or continually
re-populated areas, such as Tanera Mhòr.
With this work I am exploring its rich past
as a Viking sanctuary, as a fishing and
crofting community and with the people
who are currently leaving their traces, as
miniature landmarks.
The project goes on display at the Rhue
Art Gallery, Ullapool IV26 2TJ from
Saturday 17 June until Friday 25 August
2017. There is also a Kickstarter campaign
to fund a special edition art-book
www.rhueart.co.uk
Ard na Goine Pier
Workshop at Roslyn Pier
Wildfire on Tanera Mòr
Dead Razorbill at Ard na Goine
Mol Mor Beach
Eleanor - Artist & Course Tutor
26 SCOTTISH ISLANDS EXPLORER MAY / JUNE 2017
MAY / JUNE 2017 SCOTTISH ISLANDS EXPLORER 27