The Archive’s Alive and if you need any convincing get yourself along to the Entrance Galleries in the Matthew building at DJCAD.
The current exhibition of newly created artwork by the incredibly talented students of Level 3 Communication Design studying illustration under the tutelage of Senior Lecturer, Natalie Russell, is open until 14 March 2025.
This is the ninth year of this collaborative project between Archive Services and DJCAD level 3 students. Doesn’t time fly when you are having fun! The project was initially borne from a serendipitous encounter with Natalie Russell who visited the Archives to use our scanner. While sitting in the searchroom, Natalie gained an insight into the range of readers coming to look at a breadth of different collections and all for different reasons. This fuelled an idea to create a project bringing art students and the University archive collections together. The ‘illustration project’ as it came to be known grew from a conversation and a desire to work collaboratively.
It was decided students would be allocated an archive ‘box’ containing unique items such as letters, diaries, photographs, map and oral testimonies selected by the archives staff. The initial premise for the project has remained mainly unchanged; if it ain’t broke don’t fix it! The project brief gives the students 6-8 weeks to use the archives in their boxes as inspiration to create a new work of art in a medium of their choosing. The project culminates with an exhibition of the students’ artwork alongside some of the archives which have inspired their creative process.
The first year was a success and nine years on the project continues to thrive with the 2025 cohort no exception. The standard of creativity and skill on display is outstanding. Here is a small selection of 5 final artworks and the archives that inspired their creation.
Historic Dundee
Francesca Cipars’ archive box contained Charles Edward’s plan of Dundee from 1846 and a Dundee Directory dated 1908-9. Francesca was fascinated by the plan and quickly decided she would like to represent some of the buildings which have been demolished and some which remain to reflect the changing cityscape. She settled on Dundee’s Town House, The Royal Arch, Dudhope Castle and the City Churches.
The buildings are made from clay and sit on wooden platforms with engraved street names. There is an information card to accompany each building giving a snapshot of their history.
Beasties
Hanna MacLeod’s archive box was filled with items relating Dundee Royal Infirmary, the main general hospital in Dundee prior to the opening Ninewells Hospital.
An Admissions and Discharges Register, 1858-1866, was the creative drive behind Hanna’s papier-mâché bugs. She found inspiration in the shape of the handwriting in the register and the cellular forms of the illnesses recorded. These colourful critters are given life with Hanna’s unique interpretation of a medical record.
The ‘Alwyn Scarth’ scarf
This cosy creation was both designed and knitted by Nicole Scoular and inspired by the life and work of Geology Professor, Dr Alwyn Scarth.
The scarf features designs and motifs inspired by Scarth’s passion for volcanoes, his study of icebergs and his love of the game squash, all reflected in the papers that form part of his collection.
The use of orange to represent lava and the blue of the icebergs are intricately brought together with the pattern on the back of the scarf which is inspired by the braille for ‘geomorphology’.
The Journey of Ruth Young
The wonderfully rich journals detailing Dr Ruth Young’s international work in the field of child and maternity welfare inspired this charming mobile.
Frances Bremner used mixed media to create the mobile which gives a nod to the childhood element of Ruth’s work. The painted hanging pieces also reference some of the places Ruth visited during her travels to Asia in the 1930s.
Silence of the Hills
Keziah Bryan created two lithography zines based on the life of Syd Sroggie focusing specifically on his experiences during World War Two and his passion for the hills, which lasted a lifetime. The increasing amount of dark ink used in the zine about war represents Syd’s injuries which included the loss of his sight.
This follows through in the Silence of the Hills which is devoted to Syd’s enduring love of nature and the comfort it brought him, despite not being able to visually enjoy the natural beauty around him.
The Syd Scroggie collections includes over 200 letters detailing Syd’s lived experiences; a unique insight into the realities of war and civilian life thereafter.
This project undoubtedly breathes new life and new possibilities into the archives held at the University. Therein lies the latent beauty of archives; each item is open to re-interpretation time and time again and in so many unique and creative ways.
The Archive’s Alive exhibition will close at 5pm on Friday 14 March 2025. Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy the fabulous artworks created by all of the students.
To find out more about the archive collections at the University you can browse our website, search the catalogue and email archives@dundee.ac.uk with any questions or to make an appointment to visit.