Edwin Morgan online exhibition
A new online exhibition featuring artworks from the personal collection of Scottish poet Edwin Morgan has been launched at the University.
Edwin Morgan (1920–2010) was a poet, translator and educator, celebrated for the humour and humanity of his work. One of the finest poets of his generation, he pushed boundaries, reworked old forms and invented new ones. Responding to a world that changed radically in his lifetime, his work shaped discussions on the future of Scottish identity, poetry and culture.
This exhibition delves deep into who he was as a person, beyond the best-known aspects of his life, letting you get to know him on a more personal level.
Launched on 27 April 2020, the centenary of his birth, the exhibition 'Edwin Morgan: An Eardley On My Wall’ features paintings that once decorated the walls of his Glasgow flat.
Edwin Morgan had a lifelong interest in art, as both a maker and a collector. He built a collection encompassing work by well-established Scottish painters, including Joan Eardley, as well as emerging artists.
In this selection of paintings from his collection, three main themes important to his life are highlighted: creativity, national identity and sexuality. While this does not encompass all aspects of his life, this exhibition strives to bring these passions to the forefront to foster a sense of relatability.
By being able to see which paintings he himself had hung in his living space, you will be able to explore avenues of his interests that have not been widely seen.
This article was first published June 2020.
Recognised as one of Scotland's greatest poets, Morgan was Poet Laureate for Glasgow from 1999 to 2005, and was awarded the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry in 2000. He also held the position of Scots Makar (national laureate) from 2004 until his death in 2010.
Edwin Morgan had a long association with the University, as a student, and then as a member of staff in the English Department for over 30 years. The University of Glasgow Library received his extensive collection of personal papers, including poem drafts, scrapbooks and correspondence, created over a long, industrious and inventive life. His art collection was gifted to The Hunterian in 2004.