The Modern Scot

The Modern Scot deals with the period of adjustment following the First World War, with an intention to take "a closer look at the creative men and women who championed a progressive national culture and made Scotland’s distinctive voice heard". It concentrates on the Scottish Renaissance Movement's concern for generating a Scottish voice in response to the rise of Modernism.

The works of this exhibition are contained within a small area featuring clean white walls with stunning original architectural features intact and on display. The structure of the space allows visual access to other exhibition spaces, currently featuring Migration Stories: Pakistan, Pioneers of Science and War at Sea. This allows a juxtaposition of works from each display and beautifully links different parts of Scotland’s cultural and artistic heritage.

The exhibition opens with a useful overview painting: Alexander Moffat’s Poet’s Pub (1980). Painted much later, it looks back to the time of the Scottish Renaissance Movement and depicts many of the individuals subsequently featured in the exhibition. The works continue as a series of portraits of, and by, the individuals involved in this artistic regeneration. These are mainly a selection of paintings but there are sculptural works included, adding a nice twist on what could have been quite a flat display.

Through this exhibition, the newly re-opened Scottish National Portrait Gallery can fulfil its function to its full potential, using wonderful works of art to engage and educate its visitors on the cultural history that has helped shape Scotland as a nation.