Waldella, Dundee. Courtesy The Art Fund
The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery and Museum has commissioned a luminously coloured new sculpture to mark the building’s £12 million refurbishment.
Waldella, Dundee, was commissioned directly from the artist David Batchelor and partly funded by a £27,740 from The Art Fund and is the largest and most ambitious contemporary work ever to have been bought by the Gallery.
“We are proud to have commissioned a work of international quality for this space and we thank The Art Fund for its generous support,” said John Stewart-Young, Arts & Heritage Manager for Dundee City Council.
Batchelor’s work explores the unnatural, artificial, yet seductive colours of the urban environment and the materials he uses are mass manufactured or industrial in nature.
He used 250 coloured plastic containers and low voltage light bulbs suspended from a thick electrical flex.
“This is a mesmerising piece of sculpture, and it was a bold step by The McManus to commission it; we were delighted to give them our support,” added Stephen Deuchar, Director of The Art Fund.
“It contrasts well with the other work of art recently bought by the Galleries with our help – a sombre yet beautiful painting by Callum Innes. It’s great that the public can now enjoy both for free.”
The McManus will reopen to the public on February 28 2010 at 12.30pm – for more details follow the links below.
