Arts of Resistance

Arts of Resistance is an original exploration that extends beyond the arts into the context of politics and political change. In three wide-ranging exchanges prompted by American blues singer Linda MacDonald-Lewis, artist Alexander Moffat and poet Alan Riach discuss cultural, political and artistic movements, the role of the artist in society and the effect of environment on artists from all disciplines. Arts of Resistance examines the lives and work of leading figures from Scotland's arts world in the twentieth century, concentrating on poets and artists but also including writers, musicians and architectural visionaries such as Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Patrick Geddes. Poets studied include Hugh MacDiarmid, Sorley MacLean, Iain Crichton Smith, Edwin Morgan and Liz Lochhead; artists include William McTaggart, William Johnstone and the Scottish Colourists. The investigation into the connection between the arts and political culture includes historical issues, from British imperialism to a devolved Scotland. Finally, the contribution to poetry and art of each major Scottish city is discussed: Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee. Highly illustrated with paintings and poems, Arts of Resistance is a beautifully produced book providing facts and controversial opinions.

ALEXANDER MOFFAT is an artist and teacher. Born in Dunfermline in 1943 he studied painting at Edinburgh College of Art. He was the Director of New 57 Gallery of Edinburgh from 1968-78. A year later he joined the staff of the Glasgow School of Art where he became Head of Painting from 1992 to 2005. He is an elected member of the Royal Scottish Academy and the current Chair of RSA exhibitions committee. His exhibition of paintings entitled '7 Poets' toured throughout the UK from 1981-84.