RSA David Michie Travel Award

This project was graciously funded by the Michie Family administered by the Royal Scottish Academy. This allowed me to travel to Budapest to create a series of works examining how the older male generation of the city find a sense of community in much healthier environments, in comparison to Scotland. 

Original works are available for purchase, please contact artist via contact page.

Oil on canvas, 152 x 183cm

This projects aim was to create a series of paintings in Budapest. The focus on examining how men construct their sense of community in Budapest as compared to Scotland, with a particular interest in the older generation. Investigating the ways in which older men in Budapest cultivate a sense of community in healthy environments, such as male-only hot spring baths. Comparing these findings with the prevailing sense of community among older men in Scotland, often centred around unhealthy spaces like pubs or football matches.

I hope to explore the nuances of male bonding and camaraderie in different cultural contexts. By conducting on-site observations and interviews with men in Budapest's hot spring baths, documenting their experiences and interactions. Create artworks inspired by these observations, capturing the essence of male community in Budapest. Contrast these findings with observations and artworks depicting male socialization in Scottish pubs. Reflecting on the potential impact of the project in fostering cross-cultural understanding and promoting healthier forms of male community. This project seeks to shed light on the diverse ways in which men forge connections and find belonging, offering insights into the cultural nuances of male socialization in Budapest and Scotland.