New exhibition explores aesthetic of Scotland’s industrial past at Dundee’s Verdant Works

A new exhibition showcasing the visual impact, drama and power of Scotland as an industrial nation will go on display at Verdant Works Museum in Dundee from Saturday 30 June.

Industry + Aesthetics features survey photography of industrial sites which forms part of the National Record of the Historic Environment, which is maintained by Historic Environment Scotland (HES).

The images shine a spotlight on Scotland’s industrial heritage, capturing aspects from the everyday to the exceptional, the marginalised, the ignored and the undervalued.

The photographs were chosen for the exhibition as a result of a crowd-sourcing exercise, which invited participants to look at the images and choose which words, feelings and emotions were conjured up by each.

Miriam McDonald, Industrial Survey & Recording Projects Manager at HES and curator of the exhibition, said:

“The purpose of this exhibition is very much to capture those first emotions that grab us all when we look at an industry for the first time."

“Within the images on display you can sense excitement, sadness, awe, poignancy, pride and danger."

"As part of my job I have the privilege of visiting and researching the extent of our industrial nation, and Industry + Aesthetics is very much a celebration of this heritage.”

Gill Poulter, Heritage and Exhibitions Director at Dundee Heritage Trust, said:

“Verdant Works is very pleased to be the first host venue for this wonderful touring exhibition produced by Historic Environment Scotland from their amazing photographic collections.

"The images of industrial sites from all across the country show how significant industrial heritage is to the story of Scotland."

"Even though some of the photographs feature decay and dereliction, they are often very beautiful and always incredibly striking.’’

Industry + Aesthetics will be on display at Verdant Works Museum in Dundee until Sunday 30 September 2018, before heading to the Scottish Maritime Museum in Irvine later in the year. Entry to the exhibition is free.

Get more information about Verdant Works Museum, including admission prices for the museum.

HES’s extensive archive spans a vast range of buildings, archaeological monuments and industrial and maritime sites, to give an unparalleled view of Scotland’s past.

About Dundee Heritage Trust

Formed in 1985 to preserve and interpret Dundee's Heritage, Dundee Heritage Trust is an independent registered charity dedicated to the guardianship, preservation and portrayal of Dundee's Heritage in ways that educate, inspire and enlighten current and future generations.

As well as the internationally significant Royal Research Ship Discovery, Dundee Heritage Trust has responsibility for Discovery Point Antarctic Museum plus Verdant Works, one of the nation's most important textile museums.

About Historic Environment Scotland (HES)

We are the lead public body charged with caring for, protecting and promoting the historic environment. We will lead on delivering Scotland’s first strategy for the historic environment, Our Place in Time.
Historic Scotland is a sub brand of HES.
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