Demarco exhibition opens at Granton Campus

Edinburgh arts patron Professor Richard Demarco has opened an exhibition of his work charting his collaboration with German legend Joseph Beuys, at Edinburgh College. The project aims to benefit art and design students at the college by giving them insight into the collaborative processes between top artists.

The exhibition of photography covers the relationship between the two friends and Beuys’ connections with many other artists. It documents a 16-year period from 1970-1986 and is intended as an academic resource for the art and design students at Edinburgh College, and complements The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art’s current exhibition ‘Richard Demarco and Joseph Beuys: A Unique Partnership’, another exhibition about the pairs’ collaborations that has just ended its run at Summerhall.

The exhibition is on display at Edinburgh College’s Granton Campus until Wednesday 9 November. It was opened by Arthur Watson, president of the Royal Scottish Academy, and Professor Demarco.

Professor Demarco said: “Joseph Beuys is the personification of the artist-teacher so is of huge relevance to the art students of Edinburgh College. It’s very important to me that this work is embedded in an academic institution as vital as Edinburgh College, where the next generation of artists will see it and be inspired by the genius of my friend Joseph Beuys.”

Edinburgh College’s head of Creative Industries, Jakki Jeffery, said: “Professor Demarco is a great and longstanding friend to the college and has always offered unwavering support and inspiration to our students. His generosity with his work and his time means we’re privileged to host this exhibition. He and Joseph Beuys are huge figures in international art and this collection is an important document of their time together. Our students will gain an appreciation of the importance of collaboration and fresh insight into how these artistic minds create their work.”

As well as the connections between Demarco and Beuys, the photographs provide a narrative of the links between Beuys and a host of major Scottish and international artists. They also cover Beuys’ relationships with various Scottish art-related locations and institutions.

The exhibition is open to the public at Edinburgh College’s Granton Campus, on the third floor.