Instant Whip: Revisiting the Textiles and Papers of Fraser Taylor 1977–1987, is an exhibition revealing the previously unseen archive of Scottish artist Fraser Taylor for the first time, alongside newly commissioned work at Glasgow School of Art for Spring 2024. It will showcase Taylor’s creative output as a founding member of 1980s collective The Cloth, as well as his individual work then and now. The title Instant Whip is sourced from the archive, borrowing the title of an independent ‘80s magazine that focused on Scottish music, fashion and art.
Uncovering narratives found in the collection, the exhibition will include printed textiles, garments, drawing and painting, photography and personal ephemera. Alongside the display of objects, digital technologies will be employed to present archival objects such as sketchbooks and photographs in fresh ways that can benefit from explorations into scale and animation. Newly commissioned work for the exhibition will respond and reflect upon the presented historic works. This new work will be in textiles, focusing upon its relationship to drawing – working across screen-print, woven and digital methods. A key part of the new work will be a film made in collaboration with Filmmaker Alex James-Aylin and MUA / stylist MV Brown that will be screened alongside physical works including garments featured in the film.
Fraser Taylor recently said “In 2014 three unmarked boxes were delivered from my storage in London to my studio in Glasgow. Opening the boxes was astonishing and shocking. They contained work that I produced from 1977 – 1987. I thought this work had been lost during one of many moves from one studio to another. It was exhilarating to be confronted with the past and marked the start of a long period of reflection, resulting in grappling with the concept that this work could become the core of a future exhibition. Revisiting this archive allowed me to make connections between my earlier interests and where I am creatively today. At times this was an emotional rollercoaster but the rewards were stirring and led to many reconnections. Ten years later this imagined exhibition will become reality.”
Exhibition co-curator Helena Britt said “Collaborating with Fraser Taylor and Panel on Instant Whip is a unique and inspirational opportunity to work with partners, including The Glasgow School of Art (GSA) Archives and Collections and GSA Exhibitions, building on research that I have carried out over the past 10 years. Through Taylor’s work, the exhibition, publication, and event series present, often hidden, insights into textile designing and printing processes to new audiences. Interconnected narratives drawn from many late 1970s and 1980s archive items highlight the significance of Glasgow as a creative city, which impacted Taylor’s time as a student and beyond. It is fascinating to research Taylor’s archive and witness the impact that engaging with the past has and continues to have on his new work”
V&A Dundee has commissioned Taylor to design a new collection exclusively for V&A Dundee’s online and in-museum shop to coincide with the opening of the exhibition.
The exhibition opens at the Reid Gallery, Glasgow School of Art on 15th March 2024 and run until 20th April 2024.
Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 