Spite Your Face

Rachel Maclean represented Scotland at the 57th International Art Exhibition, the Venice Biennale, which ran from 13 May to 26 November 2017, with major new film commission Spite Your Face. Curated by Alchemy Film and Arts, in partnership with Talbot Rice Gallery and the University of Edinburgh, Maclean’s modern-day, dark Venetian fairytale was presented as a large-scale portrait projection at the altar of the deconsecrated church, Chiesa di Santa Caterina, Cannaregio.

Find out more in this announcement at the official unveiling of the film, and also see curator Richard Ashrowan’s reflections on the film.

Also download the Scotland + Venice 2017 Exhibition Guide (PDF)

Exhibition Dates

May 13 2017 to November 26 2017

Location

Chiesa di Santa Caterina
Chiesa di Santa Caterina, Fondamenta Santa Caterina, 30121, Cannaregio

Profile

Rachel Maclean

A graduate of Edinburgh College of Art, Rachel Maclean works across film, print and photography to construct fantasy narratives that play with issues of identity, social values and politics. A mix of high art and popular culture, advanced technology and traditional theatre, humour and serious enquiry, her work is exacting and engaging. Read more

12 April 2018 — News

Rachel Maclean: Artist Talk


In this video, Rachel Maclean discusses her exhibition Spite Your Face at Talbot Rice Gallery, as well as her broader practice. https://vimeo.com/263206334 Commissioned for the Venice Biennale in 2017, Rachel Maclean’s Spite Your Face returns to Scotland at Talbot Rice Gallery for its UK premiere. Read more

20 July 2017 — News

Spite Your Face to return for UK premiere in February 2018


Following its world debut in Venice in 2017, Rachel Maclean's Spite Your Face returns to Scotland at Talbot Rice Gallery in Edinburgh for its UK premiere from 24 February – 5 May 2018. Referencing the Italian folk-tale The Adventures of Pinocchio, Maclean’s new commission offers a powerful critique of contemporary society, critiquing the underlying fears and desires that characterise the zeitgeist we find ourselves in today. Read more

20 May 2017 — News

Spite Your Face: Opening Week Reviews


The whirlwind of Vernissage was the first chance to see Rachel Maclean's work in the stunning interior of Chiesa di Santa Catarina in Canareggio. We have put together a selection of the opening reviews and articles from the week past... Read more

9 May 2017 — Writing

Welcome to the New Baroque: Reflections on Spite Your Face

Richard Ashrowan, Curator for Scotland + Venice 2017 and Creative Director of Alchemy Film & Arts, offers his personal reflections on Rachel Maclean's new film commission, Spite Your Face. From the bright sunlight of Fondamenta Santa Caterina, a rippling light reflects the water’s surface onto the tranquil surroundings of Cannaregio. Read more

9 May 2017 — News

Scotland + Venice unveils Rachel Maclean’s Spite Your Face

Rachel Maclean Spite Your Face Photo by Patrick Rafferty

The Scotland + Venice partnership today unveils Spite Your Face, a major new film commission by Edinburgh College of Art educated artist Rachel Maclean for the 57th International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia. Read more

6 March 2017 — News

Rachel Maclean reveals themes of new film commission


Rachel Maclean, the artist representing Scotland + Venice 2017, will present a major new film commission in Venice: a dark Venetian fairytale entitled Spite Your Face. Speaking for the first time about the themes of her new commission, Maclean – at this weekend’s Alchemy Film & Moving Image Festival - revealed that the new work will be a powerful critique of the contemporary ‘post truth’ political rhetoric. Read more

1 February 2017 — News

Alchemy Film and Moving Image Festival 2017 programme announced

It's What Inside That Counts by Rachel Mclean

Hawick becomes focus for international community of film-alchemists as Scotland + Venice curators announce festival line-up Over 50 filmmakers and artists from around the world will be landing in Hawick on March 2nd for the seventh edition of Alchemy Film and Moving Image Festival. Read more

26 January 2017 — News

Scotland + Venice partnership announces participants in the 2017 Professional Development Programme


The Scotland + Venice partnership is delighted to announce that fourteen art students from six Scottish art colleges have been selected for the Professional Development Programme as part of the Scotland + Venice presentation of a solo show of new work by Rachel Maclean at the 57th International Art Exhibition – la Biennale di Venezia (13 May – 26 November 2017). Read more

5 October 2016 — News

Venue selected and Producers announced for Scotland + Venice 2017

Chiesa di S. Caterina, Fondamenta Santa Caterina,
Chiesa di S. Caterina, Fondamenta Santa Caterina, Venice.

The Scotland + Venice partnership is delighted to reveal further details about Rachel Maclean’s solo presentation: the new venue for the exhibition has been selected, and the Producers of the new film commission have been chosen. Read more

18 August 2016 — News

Scotland + Venice Project Manager Announced

Karen Shaw

We are delighted that Karen Shaw will be joining Alchemy Film & Arts as our newly appointed Project Manager for Scotland + Venice. Karen brings a wealth of experience to the project, with 18 years experience of arts management, including having produced the last two editions of Glasgow International as Festival Manager. Read more

10 May 2016 — News

Scotland + Venice 2017 announcement


The Scotland + Venice partnership is delighted to announce that Rachel Maclean has been selected to represent Scotland at the 57th International Art Exhibition, the Venice Biennale, running from 13 May to 26 November 2017. Read more

Profile

Rachel Maclean

A graduate of Edinburgh College of Art, Rachel Maclean works across film, print and photography to construct fantasy narratives that play with issues of identity, social values and politics. A mix of high art and popular culture, advanced technology and traditional theatre, humour and serious enquiry, her work is exacting and engaging. Read more