A series of murals from Scottish artist KMG greet visitors to Aberdeen Airport. Painted at intervals around the car park opposite they were created for the popular Nuart festival. They are works of art that transport you into the realm of Celtic mythology and folklore.
Spending a lot of time in the Highlands. KMG was immersed in the oral storytelling traditions of her grandparents. Here she would be regaled with tales of the land and its mythical inhabitants. It’s an early exposure to the region’s folklore that had a profound impact. Something that would spark a lifelong fascination with figures and narratives. Stories that have been passed down through generations.
Folklore
“I find folklore and mythology really quite interesting,” KMG explains. “A lot of people couldn’t read or write. So they passed down oral stories. Or they passed down songs or they passed down art and that’s what seeped into our culture. That’s what we, a lot of us, identify with to this of day.”
Ancient Legends
In the murals on the walls around Aberdeen Airport, KMG brings these ancient tales to life. The goddess Brígid, associated with spring, health, and fertility, stands as a welcoming guardian. Nearby, the formidable Scáthach, a female warrior who trained Celtic gods in battle. Meanwhile Cernunnos the Celtic God of nature, flora and fauna kneels with a headress of antlers.
Interview with KMG at Nuart Aberdeen
Cultural Pride
KMG’s murals reclaim these mythological figures. Woven into the fabric of the airport’s public spaces. They are a statement of cultural pride. A testament to the strength of Scotland’s heritage. Representing the traditions that have endured despite attempts to remove them. “When Christianity arrived in Scotland and colonialism arrived, they tried to eradicate these cultures,” KMG explains. “So it’s me trying to reclaim them and bring them back”.
Artistic Journey
KMG’s artistic journey began early. First exploring street art and graffiti in her hometown of Aberdeen. It was an introduction rooted in a strong sense of activism. Feeling a desire to take a stand against what she felt was a rising tide of fascism and racism. This was just after the 9/11 attacks. Street art and graffiti became a way to express opposition to hateful ideologies. Early work consisted of “little stencils, which I was terrible at, and anti-BNP stickers”.
Evolving Style
Eventually the style we see today began to form. Initially centered around a more traditional, caricature-driven style inspired by the New York graffiti scene. Over time, it has become increasingly minimalist. More focused on the essential elements of the composition.
Bare Minimum
“I like boiling things down to the bare minimum, because I find that more of a challenge” KMG explains. “It’s quite hard to make something look good that’s so minimal. There’s nothing to hide behind. You can’t hide behind any shading or lots features… I really enjoy the balance of creating a tidy composition and using those clean lines to achieve that.”
Nuart Aberdeen 2024 took place on June 6th-9th 2024. You can learn more by heading to the festival website. You can see all of the murals created as part of the festival here. Credit for the cover photography on this article is Conor Gault.
For more Inspiring City articles you will like, take a look here:
- Cbloxx explores legacy of the Picts in powerful mural
- All the murals from Nuart Aberdeen 2024
- Dot Dot Dot warns the World – New work for Nuart
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