Refurbished Dundee Museum To Re-Open With A Spectacular New Commission

Written by Gilbert Carmichael Saturday, 27 February 2010 19:55

DUNDEE, SCOTLAND - A stunning, luminously coloured new sculpture has been installed in its new home at The McManus: Dundee's Art Gallery and Museum, to mark the building's £12 million refurbishment. Commissioned directly from the artist, "Waldella, Dundee", by David Batchelor was partly funded by independent charity The Art Fund with a grant of £27,740. The work, specifically designed for The McManus: Dundee's Art Gallery and Museum and never publicly displayed before, is the largest and most ambitious contemporary work ever to have been bought by the Galleries.

Over 10 metres in length and dramatically suspended from the ceiling, it will act as a focal point for the new three storey central circulation area in the redeveloped building. It is designed to draw visitors up through the building, where they will encounter different views of the work from all three floors.

Dundee-born Batchelor (b.1955) is one of Britain’s most respected living artists – he is currently working on a commission in London and is preparing a survey of 15 years work at the Paso Imperial in Rio de Janeiro. He has exhibited widely in the UK, United States, Europe and Latin America. His work explores the unnatural, artificial, yet seductive colours of the urban environment and the materials he uses are mass-manufactured or industrial in nature. Waldella, Dundee was created from 250 coloured plastic containers and low voltage lightbulbs, suspended from a thick electrical flex.

Housed in a splendid Gothic Revival-style building and displaying Dundee's main collection, the museum is managed and operated by Dundee City Council's Leisure and Communities Department. The building has undergone an exciting and extensive refurbishment programme, funded by Dundee City Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the European Union and Historic Scotland, with additional contributions from The McManus Fundraising Appeal.

The building was voted Dundee's favourite building in 2000 and has been at the heart of the art and culture of the city since its opening as the Albert Institute for Science Literature and the Arts in 1867.

It was renamed 'McManus Galleries' in the mid 1980s in recognition of Maurice McManus OBE, twice Lord Provost of Dundee who championed works during the period which stabilised the building.

However by 2000 it was clear that more work would be needed and to provide a truly modern museum experience a decision was taken to undertake a complete restoration of the building and its services with a focus on how it functions and how best to provide an accessible service to the visiting public.

The project has brought the 143 year-old facility into the 21st century and provides a greatly improved visitor experience and a 'must see' attraction in the heart of the City

The design team was led by Dundee City Council and the appointed Architects were Page and Park, Glasgow. The display design was undertaken by Campbell and Co., Edinburgh. The appointed Heritage Consultants were ABL Cultural Consulting, London.

This project is now complete, and the 'revitalised' McManus: Dundee's Art Gallery & Museum re-opens to the public on Sunday 28 February 2010 at 12.30 pm. Visit : www.mcmanus.co.uk/

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