A variety of Scottish exhibitions featured in an edition of Channel 6 Broadcasting’s TV programme, ‘Art in Scotland’.

The programme includes the work of Stanley Spencer in ‘Men on the Clyde’, photography in ‘The Art of Documentary’, portraits of dogs by Euan Myles, Bruce Nauman’s ‘Sleeper’, ‘100 Years of Scottish Printmaking’ and Lucy McKenzie at the 5th British Art Show.

The first item features what we are told are some of the most important paintings ever made in Scotland, painted by the English war artist Stanley Spencer during the Second World War. A sequence of views of his work and photographs of the artist at work in Port Glasgow is narrated by Julie Lawson.

Sara Stevenson tells us that photography is very much a Scottish art form and claims that the art of social documentary was invented in Scotland. ‘The Art of Documentary’ shows the range of documentary photography from the 1840s to the present day and this item is illustrated with a large number of powerful images from the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery.

Euan Myles’ project reflects his interest in greyhounds. Previously a commercial photographer working in advertising, this is his first personal art project. The brief sequence shows some of his photographs of racing dogs.

Bruce Nauman’s ‘Sleeper’ is captured in a one and a half minute creatively shot and edited video of the sound-based work. We see a bare white room housing only fluorescent lighting and white loudspeakers as we hear an extract of the sounds played in the space. There is no attempt, by voice-over, caption or otherwise to set the context of this item.

David Watt of Edinburgh Printmakers says ‘100 Years of Scottish Printmaking’ is a definitive look at prints made by Scottish artists, or prints made in Scotland, over the last century. The exhibition covers a wide range of artists, some of whose work is shown.

Finally, artist Lucy McKenzie is filmed at the 5th British Art Show explaining that her work uses metaphor, particularly looking at the ways in which sport is exploited as a political tool. She defines political art as work that has a political effect, although in the hands of a good artist it may not appear overtly political. This video recording lasts 7 minutes and 52 seconds.