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By Cain Martin
Oor Wullie’s Bucket Trail arrived in Perth this week for one week only as the mass-participation public art event continues its national tour by visiting Perth Museum & Art Gallery and the St John's Shopping Centre.
A group of mischievous Oor Wullie sculptures are on display in Perth, with 6 being displayed in the St Johns Centre and 4 in Perth Musuem & Art Gallery.
We are especially excited to be home to Minecraft Wullie who we are sure will feel right at home at the interactive Player: Videogame Interaction from Atari to Toys to Life exhibition that's is currently on at the Musuem and Art Gallery. It's fantastic to be able to link a relatively modern form of play like gaming with a character like Oor Wullie, who has entertained people, young and old, for generations.
Here is a little bit about each Oor Wullie and the designer that created it:
Kiwi Artist Mandii Pope has had works shows in a variety of exhibitions in Europe and the UK, including significant solo exhibitions in cork street London and Dubai. Mandii has close links with many charities often donating works to fundraise for various causes around the globe.
His fascination with Oor Wullie and William Wallace drove him to create this traditional Celtic design as he was sure Scotland and it’s tourists will enjoy it.
Originally from South London and with a background in prop-making, Sally went on to study Art in Tauton and Norwich. Sally has accomplished many projects over the years, and has some public sculptural works around Norfolk.
Here Sally presents Wullamyn, Inspired by Marilyn Monroe, this Wullie is indulging in heels, diamonds and jewels!
Lesley initially trained as a graphic designer before becoming a self employed artist in 1996. She has been involved in several public art projects.
A tribute to our soldiers present and past, Wullie’s new rigour is a bit of a blast. A WW2 Sudjer there’s nothing more he could need, with his gun on his shooter and ma’s colander on his heed!
The majority of John’s work uses decorative concrete to create the image of real stone and rock for theme parks, water features and similar applications.
He took his knowledge of materials and making techniques and applied these to his “Wullie”. Usually Wullie is rather scruffy, and John wanted to see what he’d look like blitzed up a bit! This is Wullie covered in glitters and metallic flakes with a fibreglass resin.
Gray’s School of art graduate, Shelagh Swanson creates work in both painting and glass. Having recently relocated her studio to Footdee, Aberdeen, Shelagh continues to create pieces to commission and is inspired by her surroundings, in her signature colourful style.
Shelagh’s Wullie is a celebration of Scotland’s most iconic Architecture and Design in honour of 2016 being Scotland’s Year of innovation, Architecture and Design.
Vanessa Gibson studied interior and enviromental design at Duncan of Jordastone College of Art in Dundee. Vanessas teached art and design in a large high school in Fife. Most of her work features text, poems and song lyrics. If you read Wullie's outfit you will find out a bit more about him! The poem that is etched in grafitti around his body is 'Gin A Body Meet A Body'
Robert Mach has recently focused increasingly on expanding his use of foil wrappings. He utilises the brightly coloured foil wrappings from products such as the iconic Tunnocks Teacake to “guild” sculptures. Perpetually on the lookout for objects to cover, Mach jumped at the opportunity to wrap Wullie in the traditional scottish teacake’s wrapper!
4J studios is a game development studio based in East linton and Dundee who develop the BAFTA winning console version of Mojang’s Minecraft.
This Wullie is based on the Creeper character from Minecraft, an explosive character renowned for wrecking your stuff!
Freelance computer game artist and graphic designer Ellen Brown created this Wullie with inspiration from a previous project.
Glasgow School of Art alumni Stuart McAlpine Miller created this Wullie with inspiration from a number of sources. Featured are bits of Wullie himself, allusions to other cartoon of a similar era (look for popeye!) and a perspective illusion which shows the authoritative face of his mother when viewed from the right angle!
This week's gallery photographer, originally from Perth is Cain Martin who is currently a student at Glasgow School of Art where he studies digital culture. Cain loves art and sculpture so particularly enjoyed shooting these Oor Wullies! More >>>
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