V&A DUNDEE is shining a spotlight on all things tartan in the first major exhibition in Scotland in 30 years to focus solely on the traditional cloth.
Tartan, which runs from April 1 until January 14, 2024, takes a radical new look at an instantly recognisable textile and pattern and marks the fifth anniversary of Scotland’s design museum.
Celebrating tartan and its global impact, the exhibition explores how tartan has connected and divided communities worldwide, how it has embraced tradition, expressed revolt, and inspired great works of art as well as playful and provocative designs.
Tartan at V&A Dundee brings together a dazzling selection of more than 300 objects from over 80 lenders worldwide, illustrating tartan’s universal and enduring appeal through iconic and everyday examples of fashion, architecture, graphic and product design, photography, furniture, glass and ceramics, film, performance and art.
The exhibition features loans from across Scotland and around the world, including Chanel, Dior, Vivienne Westwood, National Museums of Scotland, National Trust for Scotland, the Highland Folk Museum and more, many of which are being shown together in Scotland for the first time.
In addition, V&A Dundee has asked the public to contribute to the exhibition. This will be The People’s Tartan, an eclectic selection of objects and memories that will spark recognition and nostalgia.
V&A Dundee has also commissioned Kinloch Anderson to design a new tartan to be used as the museum’s exclusive tartan and developed a range of merchandise in collaboration with designers in Scotland.
From the sublime through to the everyday – even the humble but iconic tartan shortbread tin has been considered.
Leonie Bell, V&A Dundee director, said: “Everyone knows tartan, in Scotland and across the world. It is at once the pattern of Highland myth and legend, forever entwined with Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobite uprising, as well as being the pattern of 1970s punks and contemporary Japanese fashion influencers. “Tartan is adored and derided, has inspired great works of art and design, and somehow can represent unity and dissent, tradition and rebellion, the past, the present and the future.
Entry to the exhibition is free for members and 18s and under. For tickets and further information, go to www.vam.ac.uk/dundee/exhibtions/tartan
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