A major retrospective exhibition of the work of Michael Rowe, artist and designer in metal, has opened at Aberdeen Art Gallery.

An influential teacher for nearly thirty years, Michael Rowe is now regarded as one of the most significant figures in the development of contemporary applied art in Europe.

Born in 1948, Michael Rowe studied at the Royal College of Art, and set up his own studio in London in 1972.  An author and lecturer at the Royal College of Art he is a Freeman of the Goldsmiths’ Company, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a Fellow of the Royal College of Art.

Talking about his work he said “It’s very difficult to be spontaneous as such in metal.  I suppose people that forge iron and so on are in some ways working through very directly.  Whilst there isn’t a direct spontaneity, the aim always is that the object is somehow curiously alive; it’s animated in some internal way.  I think in a lot of these pieces there is implied movement.  That’s a quality I like to work with very much.”

The exhibition, which is on from 25 September until 20 November is a National Touring Exhibition from Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery, and has been organised as part of the Crafts Council initiated Show5 series of exhibitions of the work of contemporary British applied artists.

Alongside this retrospective is an exhibition of the work of the 18th Century Aberdeen goldsmith John Leslie who played an important part in the commercial growth of the city.   The exhibition includes spoons, forks, fish slices, sugar tongs and a teapot, many in the North East Scotland style which was widely practised at the time. 

There is also a display showing the different ways metal can be manipulated with different techniques illustrated through pieces by Junko Mori, John Creed, Maureen Edgar, Adrian Hope, Sian Puckrin, William Kirk and Simone ten Hompel. 

The John Leslie exhibition, presented in collaboration with the Clan Leslie Charitable Trust, is on display until 5 February 2005.

Both exhibitions are taking place at Aberdeen Art Gallery, Schoolhill, Aberdeen Tel 01224 523646.  Opening hours Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm and Sunday 2pm to 5pm.  Admission free.