Glasgow City of Culture

I can’t quite figure out whether it is the artists who are totally mad, or art galleries that pay large sums for such exhibits or the public that go to see them. Possibly the artists have figured out that the rest of the world is deranged and they can cash in.

Feeling quite mad and for a bit of merriment, I recently visited the Gallery of Modern Art in Queen Street, Glasgow (entrance is free)

The main display was something that has earned the name Bangers and Mash by a David Mach. As I went in a woman was coming out saying, "Call that art!"

I could see immediately that the exhibit had some plus points.

We are constantly told that we should recycle more rubbish and this exhibit had done just that. It had taken several burn out cars (bangers*) and filled them with folded copies of newspapers and placed them on newspapers craftily built so as to resemble mashed potatoes. The result was a saving in the amount of rubbish that had to be disposed of.

This exhibit must have taken a lot of time to build. All the newspapers had to be folded to make use of the colour scheme used in the newspapers and built to the right pattern. After a time I even began to think that I was looking at a work of art. The artist had deliberately left the interpretation open. As the newspaper publishing business that printed the newspapers is now up for sale, the words "abandon hope" comes to mind.

I guess I have answered my own question. It is the people that go to see such exhibitions that are quite mad. The truth is that everything is art and if we just look out of our windows we will see a wonderful array of it. Certainly my DIY bird table, decorative wheelbarrow and wishing-well are works of art. I’m not so sure of the tokens left on my lawn by visiting cats and dogs. Even cracked mud is apparently art for that is exactly what one of the other exhibits at the Gallery consisted of.

For further information visit:Gallery of Modern Art

* An alternative meaning for bangers is sausages.

The New Science Centre is on the banks of the Clyde River, across from the Exhibition Centre, which is also rather eye-catching since it's shaped like an armadillo; a footbridge connects the two. The GSC cost about $113 million and is an architectural marvel, being only the second building in the world to be clad in titanium--this alone makes the GSC stand out. Even so, what truly makes the GSC unique is its viewing tower, which is the largest freestanding structure in Scotland, and the rotational device that makes the building turn 360 degrees.

The GSC combines three buildings: the main Science Mall, the Tower, and an IMAX theatre.

Once inside, the reception hall proved inadequate; the queue at the cash desk had to be fought through to get from one building to another. Developers should have used a bit of science--applied queuing theory, perhaps--to deal with the problem.

For the equivalent of $14.25 we gained entry to the IMAX and the Science Mall.

A 3D film was about to start so we headed for the IMAX theatre, housed in a building shaped like a large ball, with the largest cinema screen in Scotland--it measured a whopping 80 by 60 feet and appeared to be curved. IMAX offers a selection of educational and scientific films; the one we saw was about the ascent of Everest by the son of the Sherpa, Norgay Tenzing, that first conquered the mountain with Sir Edmund Hillary. The 3D effect was more dramatic than real life: to have an avalanche hurtling straight at you from the giant screen with realistic sound effects and trembling seats, was certainly scary--the only things missing were extreme cold and wind! The drama was heightened by a group of climbers being caught out by a gale as they tackled the final ascent. Several deaths occurred and one climber, as he lay dying, spoke to his wife by mobile phone and discussed the name of their as-yet unborn child. It was real tear-jerking stuff. The IMAX by itself is worth a visit.

Following the film we had something to eat at the snack bar in the tower, though the tower itself had suffered some technical problems and was closed. You're supposed to be able to ascend to the top and take in a panoramic view of Glasgow and outer surroundings.

We finished by visiting the Science Mall, which has three main floors: Explore, Discover, Experiment, and Enjoy; Science in Action; and Science and You. There is genuinely something there for everyone--whatever your age, you won't be bored. Most of the displays are interactive and good childish fun. We visited two Science Shows where the adults in the audience participated to a greater extent than the kids. The first was about rockets, and demonstrated various devices from a balloon rocket--which proved too successful, as it disappeared above the ceiling--to objects propelled by exploding gas. The other show was about electricity, which certainly taught me a few things I didn’t know. It was all good fun. The demonstrator, who I suspect was from one of the nearby universities, was a good entertainer.

There are over 300 exhibits including ones that did 3D headscans and allowed you to rearrange your features; star in your own digital video; see a glass get smashed by sound; and experience a million volts of indoor lightening. There was enough to keep everybody entertained, but family with children would have gotten the most out of it.

The place is well worth a visit and good value, considering it’s a full day's entertainment. For further information visit: Glasgow Science Centre