Portals by Michael Eden, 2016 purchased for the National Museums Scotland Collection

With the opening of National Museum Scotland’s new Art, Design and Fashion galleries in July 2016 came the exciting opportunity to commission a new piece of artwork.

Michael Eden was asked to create a unique piece to celebrate the architectural styles of the National Museum of Scotland which would be displayed in the ‘Pushing the Boundaries’ exhibition.  This section highlights the many ways in which artists embrace traditional techniques whilst exploring new technologies.

Michael’s response to the brief was Portals which became part of the Museum’s permanent collection in 2016.

In Michael’s words

‘Portal may refer to:

• A magical or technological doorway that connects two locations, dimensions or points in time.
• Portal (architecture), a gate, door, or the extremities (ends of a tunnel).

Portals is my response to the above definitions, particularly in relation to the Royal Museum of Scotland, where entering the building has a transformative effect.  The visitor becomes a time traveller, moving between the early days of the universe through the evolution of life on earth to the creation of cultures and complex societies.

Portals also reflects my interest in the cultural role that architecture plays in society.  Buildings are more than just stone or steel, slate or glass, they have meaning beyond the physical.  They make statements, reflect their creator’s personality and polarise opinion.  Inspired by 19^th century architectural models, Portals is a hybridization of the museum’s architectural styles, demonstrating that life is change and that museums not only illuminate the past, but also shine and light into the future.

See more works in Public Collections below: