Jacqueline Donachie

Artist Jacqueline Donachie works largely outside formal gallery contexts, often making work in collaboration with specialist disciplines, or with the direct involvement of the general public. Fascinated by public space, her recent work has explored how we navigate towns and cities. Slow Down, conceived for the small market town of Huntly in 2009, and subsequently realised in the profoundly different contexts of Melbourne (2013) and Glasgow (2014), invited cyclists to follow a route through a city, making a giant chalk drawing in the process.

Donachie’s new work Mary and Elizabeth connects history with the present day through an evanescent line of red pigment journeying through the city, and linking two sculptures situated on either side of the railway line which cuts right through the centre of Princes Street Gardens.

The artist imagines ‘...a timely journey, a connection fuelled by knowledge, lore and literature that loops from popular novels of scandal and sentiment (Waverley by Sir Walter Scott was first published 200 years ago this summer, in July 1814) to historic conspiracy and bloodshed, all connecting through a national debate around democracy, identity and governance.’ 

A limited edition etching based on Mary and Elizabeth is available to purchase from our festival Kiosk. 

Supported through the Scottish Government’s Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund.

Part of GENERATION, a landmark series of exhibitions celebrating 25 years of contemporary art in Scotland.