A new exhibition at the City Art Centre in Edinburgh explores the reshaping of Scottish art following the Second World War. This captivating compilation from the City Art Centre’s permanent collection of fine art presents a diverse and multi-modal display of over 60 pieces from Scottish artists during the turbulent post-war period. 

In the wake of this period of profound social, political, and cultural upheaval, contemporary artists attended to both tradition and modernity, transforming the artistic landscape by pushing the limits of conventional creativity. 

This exhibition collates works from some of the most noteworthy leading artists of this period, including William Johnstone, Joan Eardley, Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, Eduardo Paolozzi, Ian Hamilton Finlay, John Bellany, Elizabeth Blackadder, Maud Sulter and Victoria Crowe. 

As communities adapted to the legacies of conflict, this era of radical shift contributed to a rise in abstract and non-representational forms, especially in sculpture. Eduardo Paolozzi’s Horse’s Head exemplifies this non-conformist move. Originally cast in concrete and then reproduced in bronze, this sculpture represents a poignant yet disturbing form, highlighted by its dark tones and rough finishes.

Moving into the 1990s, Elizabeth Blackadder’s Japanese Still Life, Kakunodate presents still life through a lens that tends towards the abstract, presenting an unconventional use of perspective and scale. Blackadder’s long career spanned the post-war period, which shaped her distinctive approach. Having visited Japan several times during the late 1980s, her time there spurred a wave of creative experimentation. 

A recurring theme throughout the exhibition leans on the ordinary communities that persist even during times of turmoil. John Bellany, who took inspiration from the close-knit seaside community of Port Seton where he grew up, takes ordinary fishermen and contorts their bodies to the surrounding seascape in The Obsession, creating a dramatic and troubling piece, with a pair of piercing red eyes staring out from the swirling blue sky behind, underscoring their precarious existence. 

Of the exhibition, Curator of Fine Art at the City Art Centre Dr Helen Scott said, ‘Between 1945 and 2000 far-reaching changes took place across politics, society, culture and science, and contemporary artists were compelled to react to these developments – from the tensions of the Cold War to the rise of mass consumerism and popular culture. Artists working through these years analysed and questioned everything, repeatedly challenging conventions and reshaping the artistic landscape. Looking back now, the pace of change was incredible’ 

City of Edinburgh Council Leader Jane Meagher comments on the importance of looking back on Scotland’s artistic ancestry: ‘Out of Chaos offers a powerful reflection on how Scottish artists responded to a rapidly changing world. These works capture the resilience, imagination, and innovation that shaped the nation’s cultural identity in the post-war era. The City Art Centre continues to champion our cultural heritage, and Out of Chaos is a powerful reminder of how art helps us understand and navigate times of change’ 

This exhibition presents a commanding collection of Scottish works stemming from a period of profound darkness and uncertainty, giving rise to new media and reshaping the artistic landscape.

With many thanks to Freya Saxton for this review.