An interview with Eòghann Mac Colla
Eòghann Mac Colla was born in Inverness in 1970. He gained a degree in Fine Art from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, Dundee, before embarking on a full-time career as a visual artist. He studied and exhibited in Barcelona before returning to live in Ayrshire. He was Artist in Residence at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig in 2008, and has been short-listed for the Aspect Painting Prize 2007 as well as the Sovereign European Art Prize in 2008.
'Eòghann Mac Colla has made a key contribution to developing contemporary Gaelic visual art. His contribution to The Two Sides of the Pass is to be welcomed.’ Murdo Macdonald, Professor of History of Scottish Art, University of Dundee
When did you first become an artist, and what inspired you to do so? Have any specific artists served as inspiration for you?
I have always been
an artist. Well, every one one of us is! When we first embark on our painting
career in the nursery we all think we are good. Then slowly one by one we
are told we are not really any good and we cannot seriously be contemplating
a career as an artist. One day someone will come and tell me – I am
still waiting.
As a child I was raised to be aware of my culture and history and these are
things that have driven my work. I have a huge admiration for Antoni Tàpies,
the great Catalan artist. Also Joan Arp, Jimmy Durham and Barrhead’s
Ken Currie among many others. Poetry has been an inspiration to me since I
was at art school. Particularly Seumas Heaney and Iain Crichton-Smith whom
I was fortunate enough to interview for the written part of my Degree at Duncan
of Jordanstone College of Art in Dundee.
How do you go about creating your work?
My creative process starts with ideas – then place, or thought about the people from the specific place. Then I would physically to go to the place and draw, often taking photographs and recording film. The outcome of these processes is what I take back into my studio and from there hopefully the final pieces begin to evolve. Sometimes this process can take a long time. A few years ago I began researching my great grandfathers work, Alexander Thom, regarding the megalithic sites across the country and abroad. This led to an interest in landscape that has developed and shaped a lot of my work. From there the link with people and place has continued.
Can you tell us something about the inspiration behind this work in particular? And about what you were trying to achieve; what ideas you were trying to convey?
This particular project was very natural to my process. The task of complementing the particular poems was a highlight. It is healthy to be challenged and by collaborating with other artist you are required to channel your own practise to complement others. It was both an enjoyable and educational experience in many ways, linguistically, geographically and emotionally. It took me to new places.
How and when do you work?
When I can – usually in the evenings when everyone is asleep.
What do you enjoy reading? What are you reading that you can recommend at the moment?
Halldór Laxness. I recently read“the atom station” – amazing and scarily contemporary. I read Seamus Heaney’s translation of “Sweeney astray” on regular basis and have done so for ages. Flight by Sherman Alexie is magic. He is funny and tragic at the same time, the way he writes about his heritage and how Native Americans fit into the society that has submerged theirs.
