As promised, a shot taken in the recently renovated 'first class hotel' - The Fife Arms in Braemar. It has taken over 3 years to do the renovation, so is not just an 'upgrade'. Although outwardly it looks very similar, inside it is transformed. It is owned by Swiss Fine Art Dealers, Hauser & Wirth and is full of pieces or art, including a Louise Bourgeois spider in the courtyard and a Picasso in the drawing room. There are also several pieces of art commissioned for the hotel - of which this is one. Braemar is a village of 450 people ... so you can imagine the impact that such a change has had on the village.
This is a chandelier designed by Los Angeles based artist, Richard Jackson. It hangs over the reception area - I leave you to judge, but like it or not, it's unique! Must be viewed on black. The following is an extract from the Fife's own website :
Conceived specifically for The Fife Arms, ‘Red Deer Chandelier’ (2018) is composed of machine milled enlarged replicas of bag pipe drones and glass antlers. The glass antlers’ form is based on the antler of red deer, taken from the nearby Invercauld Estate. Each piece was made by hand – blowing, pulling and rolling the glass to produce uniquely coloured, textured form. There are two types of Antlers. The first consists of solid glass in various shades. The second is of hollow glass antlers filled with neon. The long support of ‘Red Deer Chandelier’ consists of comically scaled up steel bagpipe drones, painted to look like their wooden inspiration, interspersed with delicate bands of stainless steel, carefully etched with traditional Celtic knots and patterns. The chandelier is a visceral and humorous interrogation of a classic light, in which Jackson has combined the heroic and the slapstick.
Oh how fascinating that you went back there, it sounded an intriguing place......and still does! I would love to say I like this piece, but it would be a lie. I might love it in a different context, but not sure it fits with where it is! Art is a very subjective form, so that's only my opinion, of course. Amazing colours though.
@casablanca Yes, the question is, ‘does it fit where it is’? At first I thought ‘absolutely not’, but every time I see it I like it more. A bit like the Louvre Pyramid, or the Colonnes Buren in Paris.
sounds amazing - I'm always a bit doubtful about pieces of art that need explaining (there's a modern stained glass window in one of the local churches, put in following a burglary that smashed the original - it has an explanation permanently on display). Have you seen Kev Paxton's work? http://artfe.co.uk/sculptures-artfe-blacksmith-metal-art-sculpture-scotland/
@shannejw I hadn't, but I have now. Thanks for sharing that link. He has some super stuff, and the Fife Arms could definitely have used him to do some work for them. :-)
For me, the neon lights are a step too far but perhaps I'm prejudice against neon! I think it is good to introduce art to places outside major cities and art galleries but I can imagine the stir it has caused?
I'm fascinated with the amount of art in this building as you have described. I would definitely have to visit it if ever I was over there! The chandelier looks amazing and i would have to see it to pass comment - and the description is amazing :)
Very interesting, to say the least. At first glance the chandelier looks out of place in its surroundings but I must admit I find the colors fascinating!
