Caithness Horizons, Thurso, until 28 September 2012

A POEM writ large on a wall, on a corner so that the poem bends, might seem an unlikely starting point for a journey into representative democracy. But Angus Reid is no ordinary artist, and one whose fluid thought processes are stimulated by and in turn enrich the evolution of Scotland’s political progress, writes George Gunn.

THE poem at the core of this creative project is, in form, a classic 14th century Petrarchian sonnet: 14 lines of 10 syllables. What Reid does is to divide each line into 7 and 3 syllables so that the poem can physically “bend” around any corner where it is installed.

Angus Reid's Call for a Constitution at Caithness Horizons

The work reflects a central motif used by Catalan architect Enric Miralles in his design of the parliament building in Edinburgh – for Scotland, the physical embodiment of representative democracy. Angus Reid has picked up on Miralles’ use of an open hand, whereby the MSP’s in the debating chamber become the dexterous fingers, and the forearm and wrist represent the real power of the people. This power comes from the land itself as signified in Edinburgh by Arthur’s Seat and the Salisbury Crags. The main unfolding dialectic of Angus Reid’s ‘Call for a Constitution’ is the five fingers on the hand (for right-handed people the left hand, the “listening/thinking” hand) which relate to the “five principles”: “the sacred”, “freedom of conscience”, “the gift of every individual”, “communities” and “the land”.

Whether you agree with the poem, or disagree, or just want to participate, you are invited to leave a drawing of your left hand on the response wall beside the poem. Or respond by sending an image to Angus Reid’s website (see below) to be projected in the Scottish Parliament on the 25 September, coming along in person to Holyrood on the same day.

Reid also invites us, the viewer/participator, to create our own poem, to imagine our own constitution, to decide upon our own five principles. It is an intriguing and timely notion which has its origins in the “peace and reconciliation” architecture of the French visionary Le Corbusier and the “space and light” sculptures of Barbara Hepworth, as well as in the revelatory and inspirational constructions of Miralles himself. Angus Reid’s question to us is, I remind you, “What kind of country do you wish to live in?” This is an “open hand” question which cannot be answered by the simplistic dichotomy of “yes or no”.

What Angus Reid suggests, through his art, is that we undertake a journey into what it means to be a human animal in the modern world. Do not look for certainties on this journey for this is the territory of image, both abstract and clear, where meaning is fluid but where the image nonetheless insists upon meaning, political representation and consequence. For this is political art. The image is freedom and freedom is energy and energy is love and love is responsibility – as he writes in his poem: “to care for the land/ and wherever/ the land has been abused to/ restore it”.

Angus Reid

All of this is also education and education is a gift offered in an “open hand”. At Caithness Horizons, Angus Reid explained to his audience he wanted to “take the poem on a walk and see what happens”. It may be too early or indeed too grand to say that this is the journey to a revolution, but this fascinating arts project has the seed of revolution in its conception, and like revolution (and democracy) it depends upon people and their participation.

By way of Shetland to Orkney; from Sutherland to Uist; Dunbar to Dundee, until the end of September, you can participate: open your hand, make your mark, and think about what kind of country you wish to live in. Angus Reid will be at The Scottish Parliament on the 25 September at 6pm. For this event and full details of all the 13 other locations where you can see ‘Call For a Constitution, go to Angus Reid’s website (see link below).

See if you can turn the corner, along with the poem, into a new world.

© George Gunn, 2012

Links

• Angus Reid
• Caithness Horizons