Jon Schueler Scholarship announces 4th Artist in Residence at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig
Parisian artist, Agathe de Bailliencourt, has been named as Sabhal Mòr Ostaig UHI’s new Artist in Residence under the Jon Schueler Residency Programme, which has been running for 4 years at the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture on the Isle of Skye. Agathe, who is based in Berlin, is the first painter to be appointed and perhaps this is fitting as 2016 is the centenary of the abstract expressionist painter’s birth, in whose memory the Programme was established (Jon Schueler, 1916 – 1992).
Agathe has an international reputation as a painter and works on canvas, paper and directly onto space, architecture and nature. She alternates between studio work and outdoor installations, which helps change the perspective and develop the work further. For the Scholarship, Agathe plans to produce paintings in direct physical connection to the local environment, the nature, the water and the shape of the landscape, each related to the others and with reference to Schueler’s work.
On hearing the news of her residency at SMO, Agathe said: “I am so happy to be awarded this scholarship, it means a lot to me. It is a wonderful opportunity to further develop my work in such a special landscape, on the Isle of Skye this coming summer. During my time there, I’ll focus on a series of “water-colour paintings”, site specific in every possible sense.”
Since 2005, Agathe’s paintings and art work have been exhibited worldwide and she had her first solo exhibition in New York in 2010.
Arts Development Officer at SMO, Kath Macleod, said: “We are delighted to be welcoming Agathe de Bailliencourt as the 4th Jon Schueler Scholarship Artist in Residence at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. Agathe is the first painter to be appointed and perhaps this is fitting as 2016 is the centenary of Jon Schueler’s birth. The Scholarship programme over 4 years has attracted over 1,100 international applications from around the world and puts Skye and the Gaeltachd firmly on the map as an exciting place to develop contemporary visual art in Scotland responding to the unique setting of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture. The 3 previous recipients of the award, Takeshi Shikama, Helmut Lemke and Oliver Mezger will be exhibiting alongside work of Jon Schueler at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, opening at the ‘An Linne’ symposium and running throughout June.”
This year will see the abstract expressionist’s work celebrated throughout Scotland, the UK and the United States, with a series of international exhibitions and his life will also be celebrated at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig through a conference and arts symposium – ‘An Linne’ – from 27 – 29 May. For more information and to book a place, please see Sabhal Mòr Ostaig’s website www.smo.uhi.ac.uk or www.eventbrite.com
The Jon Schueler Scholarship is a unique international partnership between Sabhal Mòr Ostaig UHI and the Jon Schueler Charitable Trust, with support from the Royal Scottish Academy.