The Most Beautiful Thing about the Place.

Walk and talk with Anthony Schrag.

"In 1724, David Hume approached the city of Edinburgh to turn part of Calton Hill into one of the first public parks in the country, lobbying them to build a walk “for the health and amusement of the inhabitants,” and you can still stroll along ‘Hume Walk’ today, not far from his burial site. I am interested in the hill as a beacon and metaphor for the people of Edinburgh: a former site of the Scottish Executive and symbol of patriotism, it peers over to Arthur's Seat and its pastoral/royal heritage on one side while overlooking the city, trailing off down the infamous Leith Walk on the other. The site of a former monastery, it challenges Edinburgh Castle’s elevation; it once was an execution hill; is the site of an observatory and has strong links to Edinburgh Enlightenment heritage; holds national monuments (failed and successful); has some of Scotland most important figures buried on it; and is also a notorious gay cruising zone.

Out of all of Edinburgh's seven hills, it seems to be the one that has shifted its identity over time in a myriad of ways, perhaps reflecting the changes in culture/society more so than the others. This confluence of nationalism, philosophy, science, gender, high society, and death all seem to reflect the beauty of life, wrapped up in 103 meters above sea level.

Part 1 (1pm – 3pm)

The first part of this project is a walk that starts from the Talbot Rice Gallery, exploring various aspects of the city and its relationship to David Hume, focusing on the (un)changing nature of beauty, as well as Edinburgh’s tendency to hide its “ugly things” in its shadows (an easy thing to do in a city with so many hills). 2 hours, and limited to 25 people.

Part 2 (4pm – 6pm)

The second part of the work takes place around a bonfire on the top of Calton Hill, with free hot chocolates, hot toddies and is open to all. It attempts to be a sort of free-form seminar on beauty, led by a selection of ‘experts on beauty’ (a plastic surgeon, a hair-dresser, a civil servant, a poet, a personal trainer, a poet, a curator, some children, etc – people as diverse as the definition of beauty itself). A light and warm space in the January darkness, the fire will hopefully illuminate the continuum of 'beauty', invite all that hides in the ugly shadows that stretch out behind us to be welcomed into the warmth."

Everyone welcome.

Questions for D-AiR associates: What might we learn from this walk and this history? What aspects of Dundee might we want to rediscover? How many boundaries do we cross when leaving from and returning to Dundee? What is the nature of beauty when considered as a boundary (to be crossed)?

If you'd like to attend the field trip please send D-AiR an email.

WHEN: Leaving Dundee at 9.00am and returning at a time of our choosing.
WHERE: Starting in Dundee, winding through Fife, rediscovering Edinburgh, and returning whence we came.