Aberdeen’s Belmont Filmhouse will host a special film screening this month of new work by award winning, internationally acclaimed artist, Charlotte Prodger.

The film, SaF05, was commissioned by the Scotland + Venice partnership for presentation at one of the world’s most prestigious visual arts festivals, La Biennale di Venezia, and has been showing there to critical and public acclaim, since May.

SaF05 is the most ambitious film to date by Charlotte Prodger, who grew up in rural Aberdeenshire, and is the third part of a trilogy. The artist was awarded the 2018 Turner Prize for the second film in the trilogy, BRIDGIT (2016).

Having attracted thousands of visitors from across the globe during its exhibition in Venice from May-Nov 2019, the free to attend screening of SaF05 in Aberdeen on Thursday 21 November at 18:30 also represents the homecoming, final leg of a simultaneous Scottish Tour to cinemas in Campbeltown, Glasgow, Helensburgh, Isle of Lewis, Shetland and Skye.

Alexia Holt, Associate Director of Cove Park the Scotland + Venice 2019 project partner and lead for the Scottish Tour said: “We’re thrilled to be bringing SaF05 to Belmont Filmhouse as part of a Scottish Tour which is giving wonderful opportunities for audiences here in Scotland to see this major new work by Charlotte Prodger. Charlotte’s work has a resonance with Aberdeenshire, inspired by her childhood in the local area and, in a sense, ‘bringing the work home’, is a fantastic way to conclude the tour.”

The screening of the work will be accompanied by a trailer documenting the development of the project by BAFTA Scotland nominated director, Martin Clark andan introduction by Eoin Dara, Head of Exhibitions, Dundee Contemporary Arts,who’s close connection to Charlotte’s work and the themes explored within it will help inform audiences experience of the work.

Among those in the audience on 21^st November, and who have contributed to the success of the exhibition in Venice, will be Robert Gordon University – Gray’s School of Art students, Courtney Barr and Lauren Ferguson.  Selected for the project’s prestigious Professional Development Programme, the arts students have spent a month in Venice looking after the exhibition and gaining invaluable creative and professional experience.

Commenting, on their experiences, Courtney said: “It’s been such an amazing opportunity to not only be a part of the Biennale but to meet other young people who are interested in pursuing the same field as myself, from all over the world.”

Lauren added: ”Experiencing Charlotte’s work in Venice, has had a significant influence on me.  On my return to Aberdeen, it feels all the more poignant to be living in the city from which most of Charlotte’s adolescent memories derive. Particularly, with the final screening of the Tour taking place in Belmont Street – a place that both Charlotte and I have personal connections with.”

To coincide with the exhibition and the Scottish Tour, Charlotte has created a limited edition screenprint for purchase.  Drawing upon research material for SaF05,the print is entitled Baked Alaska,2019 and is available to buy through artists residency centre, Cove Park.

Explaining the special connection between Charlotte’s work and Cove Park, Associate Director, Alexia said: “Charlotte’s very first residency was at Cove Park in 2010 and a second residency in 2018 allowed her to develop her first ideas for SaF05.

“Charlotte has generously donated this edition to Cove Park and all proceeds from sales will go towards the development of its international artists residency programme in 2020, our 20th anniversary year.  This will ensure other artists can take part in our programme and develop ambitious new work for national and international audiences.”

Notes to Editors:

• Scotland + Venice is a partnership between Creative Scotland, British Council Scotland and the National Galleries of Scotland – with funding support from the National Lottery through Creative Scotland. SaF05 is curated by Linsey Young with Cove Park.
• SaF05 is named after a maned lioness that figures in the work as a cipher for queer attachment and desire. Drawing upon multiple sources – archival, scientific and diaristic – and combines footage from a number of geo-graphical locations (the Scottish Highlands, the Great Basin Desert in North America, the Okavango Delta in Botswana and the Ionian Islands). The film is named after a maned lioness – the last of several documented in the Okavango Delta – that figures in the work as a cipher for queer attachment and desire. It was made using a variety of devices including film industry cameras, static camera traps, drones and small handheld devices such as Prodger’s smart phone.
• The Scottish Tour has received additional support from Screen Scotland, Art Fund, and Outset Scotland.
• The Professional Development Programme receives support from the participating institutions, with additional funding from Art Fund, from the National Lottery through Creative Scotland and from British Council Scotland.
• For further information about purchasing the limited edition screenprint Baked Alaska 2019, contact Cove Park directly. Alexia Holt, Associate Director, 01436 850 500, [email protected], covepark.org.
• To find out more about SaF05 at 58^thInternational Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia and Scotland + Venice visit here. The final opportunity to see SaF05 in Venice is Sunday 24 November.

Media Contact:

Claire Thomson, Media Relations & PR Coordinator | [email protected] |+44(0)141 302 1708 | +44(0)7747 606 146