A mural delving into the legacy of the Picts has been painted by Cbloxx in Aberdeen. Part of this years Nuart Festival, it is a tribute to a past people. An ancient culture that once thrived in the area.
Cbloxx, whose real name is Jay Gilleard, has long blended history with societal issues. They also address topics of identity in their work. The mural in Aberdeen links all of those areas. A lost people whose past and identity have been replaced. Even now the Picts remain somewhat of a mystery. Known via contemporary writers such as the Romans and the few things they left behind.
Face in the Rock
The mural’s centrepiece is a captivating face emerging from the rock. It’s as if it has been carved into the earth itself. Hidden from view but ever present. The fact that it is carved is significant. Much of what we know from the culture comes from the stone totems and carvings they left behind. “It’s a reflection on how their legacy has been preserved through their stone carvings. Which are the only remaining vestiges of their once-thriving civilization”.
Master Craftsmen
“The Picts were master carvers, particularly of granite, a notoriously difficult material,” explains Cbloxx. “This mural is a celebration of their proud identity and their strong connection to the land”. It’s also a connection that made artistic sense. Cbloxx had also been experimenting with stone carving as part of their own practice.
The Land
For Cbloxx this idea of having a connection to the land is an important one. Reflecting on their own experience. Jay shares how they returned to live in a rural village in Yorkshire after spending time away. Drawn back by what ultimately is a strong ancestral connection. Generations of families including Cbloxx own would have lived and grown up within a relatively small geographic area. “My grandparents were there. They used to go on holiday to the next village… they were literally from 10 minutes down the road”.
Identity
It’s this connection to the land which can sit at the heart of identity. Cbloxx says it’s about “ancestry and celebrating the environment. Having that connectivity to how important that is”. Looking back to the mural and to Aberdeen, that identity is still there. The Picts are still the direct ancestors of the people who live there now.
Nuart Aberdeen
The mural for Nuart Aberdeen also prompts us to consider what happened to those people. Today we might consider the Picts as Pagans. “They were really celebrating the land like it was a deity” says Cbloxx. “Gods were nature and the seasons”. As with many similar cultures of the time it’s likely that they were transplanted by the emerging Christian beliefs. It’s not lost on the artist that parallels can still be made in today’s world.
Gateway
By using the mural as a gateway to learning about the Picts. Cbloxx hopes to inspire people to delve deeper into this often overlooked chapter of Scottish history. “I want people to look at this mural with an open mind. Find the mysticism and wonder in Scotland’s past… I hope this work can help uncover that sense of connection to the land and its people”.
Interview with Cbloxx
‘Offerings’ is a mural painted by Jay Gilleard also known as Cbloxx in Aberdeen. It was part of the cities Nuart Festival which took place in June 2024. You can read more about the festival here and Cbloxx work here.
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