Martin Creed: Work No.1059

The Scotsman Steps

2011 sees the unveiling of a major new public artwork by Turner Prize winning Scottish artist Martin Creed for the historic Scotsman Steps. Commissioned by The Fruitmarket Gallery for Edinburgh Art Festival with support from the Scottish Government’s Expo Fund. Work No. 1059, is a feast for the eyes – 104 steps leading from the Scotsman Hotel on North Bridge to Waverley Station, The Fruitmarket Gallery and City Art Centre on Market Street, each step clad in a different colour of marble.

The Scotsman Steps were built in 1899 as part of the ‘Scotsman Building’ for the Scotsman newspaper, and have recently been refurbished by Edinburgh City Council and Edinburgh World Heritage. Work No.1059 forms a key part of the refurbishment, and is a visually spectacular, beautiful and thoughtful response to this historic artery. Creed describes the project as a microcosm of the whole world – stepping on the different marble steps is like walking through the world, the new staircase dramatising Edinburgh’s internationalism and contemporary significance while recognising and respecting its historical importance.

This is a typical Creed idea – involving as it does the direct engagement of the public in a work whose simplicity belies its conceptual and architectural complexity – and a highly appropriate response to the particular situation of the steps. Built into the fabric of Edinburgh, the work will become a new and joyful part of the experience of the city for inhabitants and visitors alike.



Mon–Sun

5am – midnight