A GIANT mural of Charles Rennie Mackintosh has been unveiled in Glasgow to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the famous architect, designer and artist.
The striking piece of street art was commissioned by Radisson RED and has been designed and created by Art Pistol Projects and well-known Glasgow street artist Rogue-one as a gift to the city. It is painted on a 60ft by 40ft wall overlooking the Clutha bar and features a portrait of Mackintosh looking through a stained-glass window in his famous art deco style design.
Born in Glasgow in 1868, Mackintosh was one of the world’s most influential creative figures. His work, alongside that of his wife Margaret Macdonald, was influential on European design movements such as Art Nouveau and Secessionism. One of his most famous architectural projects was the Glasgow School of Art, considered to be the first original example of Art Nouveau architecture in the UK.
Michael Weston, curator at Radisson RED said: “Working closely with talents like Rogue-one and Art Pistol Projects has been an absolute pleasure. You can see from the level of detail how much hard work has gone into creating this new piece of street art – it’s incredible!
“After opening our doors in April, we wanted to give something that showed our commitment to the local art scene as well as the city of Glasgow itself. It was important to us that the mural represented a key piece of Glasgow’s history, so commissioning a mural of one of the city’s most iconic artists, Charles Rennie Mackintosh was perfect. It is a fitting tribute to one of Glasgow’s greatest talents in his 150th anniversary year – and I’d encourage everyone to come see it!”
As part of the project, Radisson RED has donated £1000 to The Clutha Trust, the charity that was set up after 10 people died when a police helicopter crashed into the roof of the Glasgow pub on 29 November 2013.
Alan Crossan, owner of the Clutha bar said: “This mural is a fantastic piece of artwork and a fantastic donation to the Clutha Trust.”
Ali Smith, founder of Art Pistol Projects said: “What a superb project to run, from the small teaser mural pieces to the unveiling of this standout mural. Mackintosh is a bit of a global superstar so we had to get this one right.”
Rogue-one is known for his photorealistic style and is behind a number of artworks in Glasgow, including Mitchell Street’s floating taxi.
Bobby McNamara or Rogue-one said: “It’s been hard work but of course great fun. In the end I think I achieved something special!”
Director of the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society, Stuart Robertson, said: “This project is a wonderful tribute to Mackintosh in his 150th anniversary year.”
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