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Alasdair Gray’s mosaic at the Western Baths

A MOSAIC  MASTERPIECE  AT THE
         WESTERN BATHS CLUB                                 

Alasdair Gray unveils unique tiled floor which captures    
      the aquatic history of iconic west end landmark

IT is an iconic Victorian baths club every bit as admired and loved as it was when it first opened its doors in 1876.

And now the landmark Western Baths Club is celebrating a new addition which perfectly recaptures its remarkable aquatic history.

This week one of the country’s best known figures in the art world – Alasdair Gray unveiled a stylish mosaic floor which he created.

The design is Alasdair Gray’s gift to The Baths in Cranworth Street, Hillhead after his two year tenure as “Artist in Residence” came to an end.  

The 7 foot by 7 foot octagon conveys the message: “Refresh Mind, Refresh Body, Refresh Land and Refresh Love”  – a fitting tribute to the Western Baths Club which, incredibly, is now in its 137th year.

Artist Nichol Wheatley transferred Alasdair’s design to the tiles which now form part of one of The Baths’ downstairs halls. Traditional tiles were used in keeping with the building’s Victorian heritage.

The two men have forged a successful collaboration having worked on the mural showing a local Hillhead scene in the recently refurbished Hillhead subway station.

At an unveiling ceremony Western Baths Club Honorary Secretary Bill Mann praised Alasdair Gray’s artwork saying it was a “wonderful interpretation ” of the spirit of the Club.

He said: “We are especially grateful to Alasdair Gray for his design. It is traditional for Artists in Residence at the Baths to leave a legacy of their tenure. Rather than a portrait or landscape painting, we were delighted with the idea of having a tile floor transformed with this innovative and striking art work.”

Western Baths Club General Manager Fraser Makeham said: “Alasdair Gray’s work  is an important addition to the Club.  It is a striking and highly appealing art work, because you view it as you go down the stairs. It perfectly captures the activities of the Club with pictures of swimmers and people on the trapeze above our pool. The members are understandably delighted
with it.

“We hope Alasdair’s work will inspire up-and-coming artists and the Western Baths Club will continue to showcase emerging local artistic talent in the years ahead.”

Alasdair Gray said: “I liked designing this.  Nichol Wheatley made the installation as practical as our Hillhead subway design.”

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