Output details
34 - Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory
University of Dundee
Jura (Dih Rah). (Artists' Book)
The printed artefact ‘Jura (Dih Rah)’ is the outcome of a practice lead qualitative research project between Faithfull and John Burnside (TS Elliot Poetry Prize winner 2012).
This project explored how artists and writers approach their individual creative processes and how through collaboration, the interpretation and portrayal of a specific landscape might reveal a unique result, creating a whole greater than the sum of its parts.
Following the Scottish Book Trust’s invitation, Burnside and Faithfull undertook a residency at the Jura Malt Whisky Writer’s Retreat in 2008. Through a series of coordinated walks within the island landscape, they investigated the etymology of the Gaelic place-names and recorded the shared physical and emotional experiences of particular topographical features.
The first stages were published in ‘The Spirit of Jura’ in 2009. This visual synthesis of the collaboration, involving both singular and mutual responses to the visual landscape, integrated Burnside’s imaginary colours with Faithfull's locally sourced oak-gall ink drawings. These initial findings were published by Polygon as a complete ‘visual’ chapter, beside more traditional literary pieces by writers including Will Self.
The ‘Jura’ artefact was subsequently published by the Scottish Book Trust and Jura Malt Whisky, with funding from Arts & Business Scotland, in a limited edition of 250 copies.
Burnside and Faithfull discussed the collaboration live on BBC Radio Scotland’s Book Café in 2009. It has been exhibited extensively internationally and is in collections including the Southbank Centre Library and the Scottish National Library. Additional presentations include the ‘13th Contemporary Artists’ Book Fair' in Leeds (2010) and Edinburgh Fruitmarket Gallery’s ‘Bookmarket’ (2011).
In 2013 ‘Jura’ was selected for the juried exhibitions ‘Voyage’ in Dortmund, curated by Imi Maufe and ‘Kaleid 2013, London‘ at the Art Academy. It was most recently presented at the ‘London Art Book Fair 2013’ at the Whitechapel Galleries.
