SCAN partners on Art X-UK 2023–24
Art X-UK is an annual project by the Government Art Collection, supporting work by artists across the UK alongside regional and national partners. In 2023–24, the Government Art Collection visited Scotland and the North East to acquire works of art, working alongside SCAN and North East sector support organisation Contemporary Visual Art Network (CVAN). This follows SCAN’s successful partnership on the first iteration of the project in 2020-21.
As part of Art X-UK 2023-24, more than 20 new works of art by 11 artists were acquired by the Government Art Collection, which will now go on display in government buildings around the world. The artists from Scotland whose work has been acquired are Ilana Halperin, Ashanti Harris, Leo Robinson, Iman Tajik and Matthew Arthur Williams.
On the announcement of the acquisitions, SCAN Director Moira Jeffrey said:
“We’re thrilled that artworks by Leo Robinson, Ashanti Harris, Ilana Halperin, Iman Tajik and Matthew Arthur Williams will be seen and shared in public buildings throughout the UK and across the world. These artists from Scotland tell complex individual stories and give voice to their communities, through artworks that are rich, complex and also very, very beautiful. At SCAN we believe that art can sit at the heart of public life and artists can be central to the way we see the world, so we’re delighted to partner with the Government Art Collection.”
One of the artists from Scotland, Ilana Halperin, spoke to the Government Art Collection about her life as an artist and her fascination with geology and art – from volcanoes and meteorites to Iona marble. You can read the Q&A on the Collection’s website here.
Images:
Ilana Halperin, Iona Marbles Meets Parent Material, 2022
Iman Tajik, The Dreamers, 2020