Ongoing from 12 July 2025
Tate
Immerse yourself in an extraordinary visual journey at the National Galleries Scotland’s Modern One in Edinburgh, where the Play Studio: Dream Worlds exhibition unfolds as part of the ARTIST ROOMS series. This distinguished showcase features compelling works by three iconic artists: Louise Bourgeois, Helen Chadwick, and Robert Mapplethorpe, each renowned for their profound exploration of identity, self-expression, and the intricate layers of human experience.
Located within the vibrant cultural heart of Edinburgh, the exhibition invites visitors to contemplate Bourgeois’s monumental sculpture Spider (1994), a towering symbol of maternal protection and complex personal history that dominates the gallery with its striking form and emotional depth. Bourgeois’s work here serves as a testament to her lifelong engagement with memory, trauma, and healing, rendered through both grand scale and intimate nuance.
Complementing this, Helen Chadwick’s provocative piece Piss Flowers (1991–92) challenges conventional notions of beauty and materiality. Employing a tactile and sensuous approach, Chadwick’s sculpture draws from organic forms and bodily traces, blurring boundaries between nature and human intervention. Her work vibrantly embodies the playful yet unsettling qualities that characterize her practice, inviting viewers into a richly layered dialogue about gender, sexuality, and corporeal presence.
Adding a contrasting yet equally powerful voice, Robert Mapplethorpe’s striking self-portraits complete the trio’s dynamic presence. Mapplethorpe’s photographic mastery captures raw emotion and identity with stark clarity, grappling with themes of vulnerability, desire, and persona. His images resonate with a bold intimacy that continues to influence contemporary perceptions of portraiture and the gaze.
ARTIST ROOMS, the framework supporting this exhibition, is a unique collaboration between Tate and the National Galleries of Scotland. Established through a nationally touring collection, ARTIST ROOMS aims to bring modern and contemporary art to diverse audiences across the UK, fostering engagement, education, and creative participation. This programme not only celebrates artistic innovation but also encourages young people and local communities to discover the multifaceted dialogues within art.
Taking place at 75 Belford Road, Edinburgh, visitors are welcome daily from 10:00 to 17:00 to experience these immersive displays. The exhibition is supported by significant partners and funders including the Art Fund, Henry Moore Foundation, Arts Council England, and Creative Scotland, reflecting a robust commitment to making impactful art experiences accessible.
Whether you are a longtime admirer of Bourgeois, Chadwick, and Mapplethorpe, or newly discovering their work, this exhibition offers a rich, sensory, and thought-provoking encounter. It is an invitation to explore the dream worlds crafted by these artists, where playfulness intersects with profound emotional resonance, and where art becomes a vital space for understanding the complexities of self and society.
