EDINBURGH.- Storyworlds is a new exhibition to celebrate the Year of Young People 2018 which gives budding young artists the opportunity to exhibit their work for the first time. The exhibition is made up of paper sculptures, inspired by the Writers’ Museum and works of Scottish Literature to create delicate worlds that bring these stories and the images they inspire to life.

Working with the Museums & Galleries Edinburgh Learning and Programmes Team, as well as artist Tessa Asquith-Lamb, 12 senior students have each selected their own text from which to create their Storyworld. Following six weeks of workshops, the finished Storyworlds are being exhibited each in their own glass dome for six months, alongside pieces from Tessa Asquith-Lamb. As part of the Year of Young People 2018, this is an incredible opportunity for young art students to display their work publicly, develop new skills and explore Scotland’s incredible history of literary tradition.

The diversity within the texts chosen by the young artists injects a modern twist into The Writers’ Museum, bringing a new perspective to the Scottish literary tradition in the true spirit of the Year of Young People 2018. Traditional Scottish ballads stand alongside modern Scottish indie music, and popular Higher English texts alongside novels and poetry published within the 2000s.

The texts which have inspired these Storyworlds are The Panopticon by Jenni Fagan, The Cone Gatherers by Robin Jenkins, Dividing Line by J.O Morgan, The Woodpile by Frightened Rabbit, Harry Potter by JK Rowling, Two Trees by Don Patterson, Visiting Hour by Norman MacCaig, Trio by Edwin Morgan, Basking Shark? By Norman MacCaig, Treasure Island by R.L Stevenson, The Twa Corbies, writer unknown, and The Mermaid and the Sailors by Claire Askew.

Councillor Donald Wilson, Culture and Communities Convener, said: “Inspired by Scottish literature, these talented young people have created beautiful and intricate paper sculptures in a fantastic example of how our museums can inspire people and communities. We are proud to showcase these storyworlds side by side with some of the nation’s greatest literary treasures, which can only be found in Edinburgh’s Writers’ Museum.”

On selecting The Woodpile, Eva Williamson said: “Creating this piece has been a way of celebrating and honouring the music of Scott Hutchison, and an opportunity to process emotions through art.”

For Mhari Dickie, working on Twa Corbies, said: “Paper cutting is a hobby and technique I previously used in higher art. I chose a poem that was visually striking to create this Storyworld. I intend to study Architecture and the skills learned here are directly referential, and will benefit us all moving forward.”

Wiktoria Ahamefule, inspired by ‘The Mermaid and the Sailors’ is one of the many students participating in the exhibition who is seeking to attend art college. She said: “The experience of having work exhibited already incredible to have on an art school application, as well as a great insight into how exhibitions work. I signed up to try a new form of expressing myself through art and to learn new skills.”