EDINBURGH.- Flashback is a major series of touring exhibitions from the Arts Council Collection, Southbank Centre. Taking as its starting point the Collection’s founding principle of supporting emerging artists through the purchase of their work, the series showcases internationally renowned British artists whose works have been acquired by the Collection. Following on from the success of the first Flashback exhibition of work by Bridget Riley, the second artist in the series of monographic exhibitions is renowned artist and Turner Prize winner, Anish Kapoor. The exhibition is staged as part of the Edinburgh Art Festival 2011 programme and supported by Creative Scotland and the University of Edinburgh.

The exhibition evolves at each tour venue and the works are selected by the artist in close dialogue with the Arts Council Collection. The exhibition at Edinburgh College of Art comprises an early pigment work and a major new sculpture completed last year and exhibited here in the UK for the first time. White Sand, Red Millet, Many Flowers (1982) demonstrates Kapoor’s early interest in applying raw pigment to a range of organic forms. The sculpture was acquired by the Arts Council Collection the same year and has been lent to many major institutions as a key example of his early work. Alongside this, Untitled (2010), on loan from the artist and specially selected by Kapoor for the spectacular space of Edinburgh College of Art’s Sculpture Court, is a monumental blood-red wax bell form standing over five metres tall.

Kapoor’s sensual and beguiling sculptures are created using a range of materials including pigment, stone, polished stainless steel and wax. Following on from the critical acclaim of his show at the Royal Academy of Arts in 2009, this Flashback exhibition gives an opportunity to explore Kapoor’s earlier works alongside recent pieces lent directly by the artist. It opened at Manchester Art Gallery in March 2011 and adapted versions tour to Nottingham Castle Museum & Art Gallery (19 November 2011 – 11 March 2012) and Longside Gallery, Yorkshire Sculpture Park (16 June – 4 November 2012).

Anish Kapoor, said: “That the Arts Council Collection had enough confidence in me to purchase my work when I was a young artist, that meant everything. Their support of artists at an early stage of their careers is invaluable, and it is fitting that the Flashback exhibition be shown at the Edinburgh College of Art as part of the Edinburgh Art Festival, where it can be seen freely by both students and public alike.”

Caroline Douglas, Head of the Arts Council Collection, said: “We are delighted to be working with the Edinburgh Art Festival, and for the first time with the Edinburgh College of Art, in the spectacular setting of the sculpture court there. The Flashback series is all about the importance of support for artists in the early stages of their careers, so the link with the college could not be more appropriate.”

Sorcha Carey, Director, Edinburgh Art Festival commented: “Edinburgh Art Festival is proud to bring an exhibition of one of the world’s most celebrated and highly regarded artists to Edinburgh. This display, in one of Edinburgh’s most beautiful settings, will give Festival audiences an opportunity to see first-hand a major recent work which has never been seen before in the UK.”

An illustrated catalogue accompanies Anish Kapoor: Flashback including an essay by Michael Bracewell and an interview with Anish Kapoor by Andrew Renton.