Renowned artist's work 'should be moved from Tate Modern to Scotland'

The National

a day ago

The two pieces by John Latham – a 20th century British-Northern Rhodesian artist – were purchased by the London gallery in 1976.
The first piece, Derelict Land Art: Five Sisters, is a panel with 16 photographs which show views of one of several shale heaps (known as Bings) which Latham studied in the Midlothian and West Lothian regions while on a placement with the Scottish Government agency, the Scottish Development Department.
John Latham (Image: Getty Images) During his time as a civil servant there – as part of the Artist's Placement Group, which worked to place artists in administrative organisations – Latham considered the problem of derelict land, and wrote a report recommending the preservation of five of the Bing sites as monuments.
The second piece is the Five Sisters Bing, a sculpture of five books spread out onto a flat book, which resembles the shape and appearance of the Five Sisters Bing, a heap of red shale with five summits which spans across 56 acres at West Calder in West Lothian.
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The pieces were first displayed by the Tate Modern in 1976, the year that they were created by Latham.
Calls to move the artwork to Scotland have been made ahead of a new community space which is set to open in West Calder next year.
Campaigners hope that the artwork can be displayed at the new Scottish Co-op Discovery Centre, a heritage attraction which is set to open in a historic building.
Angela Constance, MSP for Almond Valley and Scottish Government Justice Secretary, has written to Constitution, External Affairs and Culture Secretary Angus Robertson to seek advice on how to return the artwork to Scotland.
Angela Constance (Image: PA) In her letter, Constance said: "It is important for the heritage of the community that the artwork is returned and displayed at the Scottish Co-op Discovery Centre as requested by the local development trust.
"West Lothian has a long and proud tradition of cooperation. It is in this spirit that we request the return of John Latham's artwork to its rightful home in West Calder."
Constance added that she would "welcome any assistance your office can provide in securing the safe return of this artwork to my constituency of Almond Valley".
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Constance's calls were echoed by the Scottish Co-Operative Discovery Centre, which said it "seem[ed] right" that it served as the permanent home for Latham's work.
Matt Pearce, the centre's project director, said: "The display spaces in the new Discovery Centre actually look out over The Five Sisters Bing and it was shale miners who started West Calder Co-operative.
"It just seems right that the artwork finds a permanent home here in our community and where anyone can appreciate it."
A Scottish Government spokesperson told The National: 'As the artwork was purchased by the Tate, it is legally owned by them.
"An approach for a loan or purchase would need to be made directly to Tate Modern.'