The first mural for Nuart Aberdeen has been revealed - with a work by homegrown street artist KMG taking pride of place in the heart of the University of Aberdeen.
An application is being lodged with the city council for the showcase artwork to be created on a rear wall of the University’s Zoology building facing into Cruickshank Botanic Garden on the University campus.
This will be the first time Scotland’s national street art festival, running from April 22 to 26, will make its stunning mark in the heart of Old Aberdeen.
KMG said the mural, which will depict a blackbird in the artist’s trademark style, draws inspiration from a world-famous graduate of the University of Aberdeen, which is partnering with Nuart Aberdeen for the first time this year.
“My research led to me to literary work of Nan Shepherd, an Aberdonian author and poet whose work was inspired by nature,” said KMG.
“She was also one of the first women to graduate at Aberdeen Uni and continued through her life editing their uni magazines as well as (giving) guest lectures so it seems a nice fit”.
The sketch for KMG’s mural, included in the planning application, shows a stylised blackbird with the words “unheard, unseen” included as a tribute to Shepherd’s work from the 1940s which set the template for modern nature writing.
The artist said the work will be complemented by planting flowers suggested by Mark Paterson, the curator of Cruickshank Botanic Garden, after the two met on site.
KMG said: “Mark is going to plant an array of colours below the wall and we're hoping for some sort of planting on the wall too. I've added some pops of pinky red in the mural as Mark showed me a beautiful plant that's growing just to the left of the wall so it felt fitting to add this in .
“We also learned that blackbirds feed off the berries of the ivy trees to the left of the wall so this also felt quite fittingly beautiful.”
KMG is due to start work on her new mural next week, before pivoting from being an artist to being a producer for Nuart Aberdeen, which is staged by Aberdeen Inspired in partnership with Aberdeen City Council.
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said he was thrilled that KMG was creating her work at the campus describing it great way to celebrate the University of Aberdeen becoming a Nuart Aberdeen partner.
The University will host the first day of the prestigious conference that runs alongside Nuart Aberdeen, drawing artists, experts and academics from across the world, and encouraging students to engage with the event and the wider festival.
Adrian said: “KMG is a world-class artist and we are so proud she has been involved with Nuart Aberdeen since it started in 2017, first as a volunteer, then an artist and now as a producer for Scotland’s national street art festival.
“Her planned work for the University of Aberdeen campus is such a great fit in so many ways, from its celebration of the university to its inspiration from the Nan Shepherd’s wonderful contemplations on the natural world. All of this ties in with the theme of this year’s Nuart Aberdeen festival, Poetry Is In The Streets.
“I think it is fantastic that KMG’s mural will leave a lasting legacy in Old Aberdeen and a tribute to what I hope will be an ongoing relationship between the University of Aberdeen and Nuart Aberdeen.”
Professor Peter Edwards, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen said: “I am delighted that plans are in place for Nuart Aberdeen to come to our King’s College campus. The proposed mural on the University’s Zoology Building will bring vibrancy to Old Aberdeen and will join the many other iconic landmarks in this part of the city.
“We are excited to see the work of local artist KMG on our campus, especially as the planned design reflects the University’s established history and connection to art, creativity and expression, and particularly that of our renowned graduate Nan Shepherd.
“Nuart Aberdeen is a staple of the city’s rich culture, and this work will brighten our campus for our community and visitors alike.”
Martyn Reed, Nuart Founder and curator said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to be working with KMG again and especially as it involves a collaboration with the University and Botanical Gardens. Mark Paterson, the curator of Cruickshank Botanical Gardens, has assisted us previously in identifying plants for Thiago Mazza’s mural in 2023, which incidentally makes it one of the few botanically correct murals in the country,
As soon as I saw the location at the campus, I knew it was made for KMG."
Councillor Martin Greig, culture spokesperson for Aberdeen City Council, said: “Supported through our Culture Investment Programme, Nuart Aberdeen continues to breathe new life into the city’s heritage, using street art to help us tell our story in new and unexpected ways.
“KMG’s mural is a striking reminder of how creativity reshapes the way we experience Aberdeen.”
You can find out more about Nuart Aberdeen here.