The Lion and the Unicorn

Artist Rachel Maclean (Edinburgh, Scotland, born 1987)

Date2012

Mediumdigital video

ClassificationsTime-Based Media

Dimensions11 min 30

AcquisitionPresented in 2014 by the Contemporary Art Society.

LocationOn Display - Gallery 09

Object numberABDAG017799

Keywords

About MeWorld renowned contemporary artist Rachel Maclean combines film and performance art to explore issues of contemporary society. Early work showed her fascination with the tacky goods on sale in Edinburgh’s Royal Mile souvenir shops, and saw her focus on the subject of Scottishness. She graduated from Edinburgh College of Art in 2009.

Maclean’s work had particular currency in the year it was made because of the referendum on Scottish Independence. The characters in her short film 'The Lion and the Unicorn' are the heraldic beasts from the Royal Coat of Arms. Maclean has appropriated sound footage from TV interviews and film and playing all the parts - the Lion (England), the Unicorn (Scotland) and the Queen - she lip-syncs perfectly to the voices of Jeremy Paxman and Alex Salmond, squabbling over the future of Scottish governance.

More About Me

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Rachel Maclean combines film and performance to explore issues of Scottish identity. From the Royal Coat of Arms come the heraldic beasts of lion for England and unicorn for Scotland.

Exhibitions

Gallery 09 - Balmoral Phenomenon