Talent of ingenious spirits even more remarkable in flesh

Last year the Society of Scottish Artists (SSA) show was entirely online and the society did well to display the work of its members and guests. This year, there’s a welcome return to work in the flesh, amply displayed at the Royal Scottish Academy with all the verve and excitement that only a physical presence can communicate.

The society was established in 1891 to “represent the more adventurous spirits in Scottish art”. Although things have moved on, the annual exhibition remains one of the most important forums for new and innovative art. It’s good to see here the work of graduates from 2020 and 2021 representing Scotland’s five main art schools. Fourteen Nipples, Twelve Hands and Thirteen Eyes by Ellen Mitchinson from Dundee deserves special mention, as does the photography of Callum Diffey from Glasgow School of Art.

The eclectic, self-taught artist George Wyllie, born in 1921, was SSA president from 1986 to 1989 and the society rightfully celebrates his valuable contribution to the arts.

As you walk around — either virtually or in person — this clean, sparsely hung show, it’s impossible not to be impressed by the sheer ingenuity and talent of these artists, among them the group Cutlog. Donna Leishman is a fine draughtsperson and a techno-wiz; her QR code-based works, which open up virtual reality environments on your smart phone, are worth experiencing.

Calum Wallis’s 86 Bricks — a vast, wall-mounted installation-drawing on paper and canvas is derived from photographs of a stretch of coastline.

It’s good to see this society in good form. Long may it continue.