The Auld Acquaintance is a new touring exhibition organised by the Scottish Cartoon Art Studio in our 15th anniversary year, featuring caricatures, editorial cartoons and strips by artists from around the world responding to the same question that will be put to Scots in a referendum this September: “Should Scotland be an independent country?”
The first showing is open now in Saint-Just-le-Martel, France’s own little capital du dessins, at the Espace Loup in their new Centre International for cartooning. Work is displayed sequentially according to its origin: Catalonia, Scotland, the rest of the UK, Québec and the wider world, with the Studio’s own contributions in the middle of the space. As with all showings to come, both sides of the debate are included with plenty of healthy scepticism as well as enthusiastic support for Scottish independence.
The locals have added whimsical touches including a “Nessie” monster made by pupils at the village’s school. Also present and correct is the perennial mascot of Saint-Just and its annual Salon International, the Limousin cow.
Our own Terry Anderson and Tommy Sommerville traveled to Saint-Just for the vernissage of the exhibition. After catching up with old friends the Studio boys spent a little time with children from the local after school club, talking about the exhibition and what’s happening in Scotland and doing some drawings too. The kids wanted to try their hand at cartooning with some very impressive results.
Later on Terry made some opening remarks as did Gérard Vandenbroucke, mayor of Saint-Just and president of the Centre and Laurent Lafaye, local member of the Haute-Vienne Conseil Général.
The exhibition will run at the Espace Loup, Centre International de la Caricature, du Dessin de Presse et d’Humour, Saint-Just-le-Martel until the 14th of August, with further showings around Europe to be announced in the coming months.
As usual the attention to detail, warmth and hospitality in the village was second to none. Our thanks to all who helped in Saint-Just: Bernadette & Stephen, Claude, Françoise, Kiki, Serge and extra special thanks to Corinne.
