Pursuit is the 2023 winter exhibition from Edinburgh Gallery Society. Following an open call for submissions, with a deadline of December 15th 2022, the society selected a diverse range of works from 60 artists for this exhibition. Since 2020, the Society has provided a platform for a spectrum of University of Edinburgh students and local artists across painting, sculpture, installation, photography, and performance.
The result is a week-long exhibition at artist-led Patriothall Gallery in the heart of Stockbridge, Edinburgh. This two-room exhibition space is managed by WASPS, which regenerates historic buildings to provide affordable studios for 1,000 artists across Scotland.
‘Pursuit’ exhibition opening night at Patriothall, featuring music from One Man DancingA sold-out opening night on both Saturday and Sunday featured musician One Man Dancing and DJ Okay Alec! organised by Edinburgh Collective. This week-long exhibition is accompanied by a series of special events for students and artists to further develop skills for a professional artistic practice.
Pursuit offers the exhibiting artists a chance to showcase the ideas, conceptual development and thought processes behind their artistic practice. This also allows the viewer to examine these practices and gain insight into the motivation and committed research behind the works shown.
Each artwork has an interpretative panel in which the artist details the concept behind the artwork as well as the practical method of achieving this using the most appropriate materials and medium.
There are many accomplished and engaging artworks here. Here is just a selection of work from opening night:
Artist Wushuang Tong with her artwork ‘Schubert: Serenade’, oil on canvas 
Astrid Wigand, ‘Evinnerlig’, acrylic on hand-stitched canvas
Freya Moran, ‘East of the Sun, West of the Moon’ (detail), hand-embroidered and quilted cotton
Freya Moran, ‘East of the Sun, West of the Moon’ (detail), hand embroidered and quilted cotton
Sophia Siersted, ‘The Waiting Room’ (detail), acrylic on wood
Phoebe Leach, ‘Alex’, oil on canvas
Esther Frose, ‘Untitled’ (part of series), oil on aluminium
Sophie Pywell, ‘The Shared Experience’, embroidery on calico
Tasmin Marshall, ‘The Two Dancers’, oil, pastel, acrylic on canvas
Ammna Sheikh, ‘Weaving Proverbs’, cartridge paper and wrapping paper, A2
Gianluca Cau Tait, ‘Reflective Disruption’
Elisa Conlan, ‘I need to stop grinding my teeth’, mixed media on canvasPursuit showcases a diverse and exciting group of works that open up informal discussion and curiosity around contemporary art practices. This exhibition, which ends on 3rd of February is an opportunity to engage with current work from a group of articulate and dynamic emerging artists based in Edinburgh.
With thanks to Julie Boyne for this review.
