Dutch artist Melvin Moti was invited by National Museums
Scotland to create a new artwork and exhibition in response to the
museum’s collections. Working behind the scenes, Moti was
immediately drawn to the mineralogy department and the collection
of fluorescent minerals.
He has created a new film Eigenlicht, meaning
‘intrinsic light’, that captures the spectrum of vibrant colours
the minerals emit under UV light.
The film will be shown alongside a selection of specimens and
artefacts chosen from across the collection by Moti, ranging from
fluorescing fossils and scorpions to uranium scent bottles.
This exhibition is part of a wider strategy by National Museums
Scotland to support contemporary art over a broad range of art
forms, including visual arts, dance, performance, drama,
literature, music, film and digital media.
With funding from Creative Scotland, the initiative will allow
National Museums Scotland to broaden access to the outstanding
collections of the museum in new and creative ways.