TWO leading figures in Scotland's art world have quit as advisers to the Scottish Parliament over the decision to keep the iconic Lion of Scotland sculpture at Holyrood.
Award-winning artist Alison Watt and ex-director of the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art Richard Calvocoressi resigned from the parliament's art advisory group with immediate effect.
Earlier this month, the parliament bowed to public pres
sure and agreed the 20-tonne granite carving by Edinburgh sculptor Ronald Rae should stay for three years. It has been a big hit with locals and visitors alike since going on show as part of an exhibition nearly two years ago. More than 2000 people had signed a petition calling for it to stay.
But the Evening News revealed last month that Mr Calvocoressi had privately urged MSPs to resist calls for the lion to be given a permanent home in the parliament's grounds.
In an e-mail to fellow members of Holyrood's art advisory group, he branded the lion "lifeless" and "boring" and warned: "There is always a danger popular sentiment will obscure artistic judgement. I can't think of a better home for the sculpture than a Yorkshire business park."
Despite this advice, the cross-party Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body accepted a recommendation from the advisory group that they should enter discussions with Mr Rae on his offer of a free long-term loan.
But in what was seen as a concession to the art professionals, the lion would not become part of the parliament's official art collection and it would not be moved to parliament land.
Instead, the parliament would accept responsibility for it if Historic Scotland, which runs Holyrood Park, was happy for the sculpture to remain where it is.
But a parliament source said: "Their noses were so out of joint that their advice was not taken, they have decided to go."
Lothians Green MSP Robin Harper, chairman of the advisory group, confirmed Mr Calvocoressi and Ms Watt had quit.
He added: "Whilst they are supportive of what the Scottish Parliament wishes to achieve with its art collection and fully endorse the decision not to acquire the sculpture for the permanent art collection, they do not agree with the SPCB decision to look at working with the artist and Historic Scotland to extend the sculpture's residency in Holyrood Park."
Mr Calvocoressi left the SNGMA last year after two decades to head the Henry Moore Foundation. Ms Watt, who has just ended two years as artist-in-residence at London's National Gallery, is famed for her paintings of draped fabrics – one of which hangs in the Scottish Parliament.
The full article contains 445 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
