Adventures in Edinburgh Museums

Repost from The University of Edinburgh's Graduate School Blog

My previous post was meant to be dramatic by using third person narration but I find writing from my own voice gives better reflection. No? Anyway, I’ll be writing every month and I hope you’ll find my posts interesting *fingers crossed*

What I am writing today has something to do with art. Art has never been my thing since I was a kid. I remember taking part in a drawing competition when I was 5 – I’ve always thought my drawing was good (thanks to my confidence!) until I won the consolation prize. Since then art had been my biggest enemy. No doubt that I don't know much about art, otherwise I won't be doing my PhD in engineering! But one thing I know for certain is the art galleries in Edinburgh are amazing. If you asked me two months ago if I had been to any of them, my answer would be no. But not anymore.

To my surprise, a friend of mine who is an expert in Mathematics came down from Glasgow a few weeks ago for the exhibition of Ponte City and I was invited as her companion. Quoting her saying; “I love Art, it will stimulate some creative science thinking at some stage” - I wanted to see for my own eyes how exciting an art exhibition could be.  

Ponte City is one of the exhibitions being held at Scottish National Portrait Gallery - 10 minutes’ walk (at most) from Princes Street and about five minutes if you are coming from St. Andrew Square (What I like the most about Edinburgh is the accessibility to all places). Being Johannesburg iconic landmark back in the 70s with 57 stories, Ponte City was an elite residential place for white South Africans. Recently in 2007, major renovation was planned but it was never finished, originating inspiration for a photography exhibition. The collaboration between Mikhael Subotzky (South African photographer) and Patrick Waterhouse (British artist) shows how an eminent South African skyline represents the anticipations of the people and the post-apartheid nation.

The Scottish National Portrait Gallery itself looks regal. I feel like a royalty being in the gallery. After the visit, I realised what I think of art is a misconception. It is not about how beautiful the person/object in the art is or how perfect the art is, indeed it is about the beauty of how a person can be expressed through a piece of art.

Apart from art, I am totally prejudiced when it comes to museums. I always thought they were spooky and dark, like a haunted museum. However, the National Museum of Scotland is none of those things. It is comprised of seven floors with numerous galleries; the museum is bright and comforting! From wildlife to technology advancement, Scottish history to world cultures, an hour visit to the National Museum of Scotland will never be enough. I enjoyed the Natural World galleries most because it reminds me of how much my wee nephew loves animals. Of course, the Scottish galleries are next in my favourites list. It is a shame living in a different country if we don’t bother to know their history and culture.

I never regretted choosing Edinburgh over many other places to be honest. It has changed my typical conception of how complicated art is and how unnerving museums are. Perhaps living in Edinburgh has made me a more mature person.

Till my next post.

April 2015.