V&A Dundee will host three major exhibitions in the coming months, exploring diverse aspects of design, architecture, and the environment.
The Dundee Tapestry (Opens 1 November 2024)
The Dundee Tapestry, which previously attracted over 86,000 visitors during its initial showing, will return to the Michelin Design Gallery. This tapestry, made by over 140 volunteer stitchers, tells the story of Dundee’s industrial heritage, creative achievements, biodiversity, and people through 35 intricately hand-stitched panels. Created under the direction of John Fyffe MBE of the Weaver Incorporation of Dundee, with the design input of Dr Frances Stevenson and Andrew Crummy MBE, the tapestry continues to capture the essence of the city’s history and community spirit.
A Fragile Correspondence (Opens 22 November 2024)
A Fragile Correspondence journeys through three distinct Scottish landscapes – the forests around Loch Ness, the Orkney archipelago, and the remnants of Ravenscraig steelworks. This exhibition presents creative responses by architects, artists, and writers, examining the relationship between land, architecture, and language. It focuses on new approaches to working with land rather than simply on it.
This project was selected to represent Scotland at the 18th Venice Architecture Biennale in 2023 and will be shown in Scotland for the first time.
Garden Futures: Designing with Nature (Opens 17 May 2025)
V&A Dundee will present Garden Futures: Designing with Nature, a UK-first exhibition examining the history and future of modern garden design. The exhibition will explore how gardens worldwide have shaped how we design and experience outdoor spaces today and highlight key moments of innovation and sustainability in gardening from the 20th century to the present day.
Featuring groundbreaking gardens and works by leading designers, landscape architects, and artists, the exhibition considers gardens as more than just places of retreat. Instead, they are spaces for experimentation and innovation for a more sustainable future. Notable gardens and designers included Piet Oudolf, Mien Ruys, Derek Jarman, and Eelco Hooftman. Additionally, the exhibition will feature work by artists and designers influenced by gardens, including Jamaica Kincaid, Duncan Grant, and William Morris.
Scottish community-led projects, such as Maxwell Community Garden in Dundee and Oban’s Seaweed Gardens, will be showcased alongside international examples. The exhibition will also explore future garden designs and reflect on how they could contribute to a greener world.
Leonie Bell, Director of V&A Dundee said, “These upcoming exhibitions highlight the diversity and relevance of design in shaping our lives and environments. From the historical significance of gardening in Garden Futures, to the exploration of architecture and landscape in A Fragile Correspondence, and the community-driven narrative of the Dundee Tapestry, each exhibition offers a unique perspective on how design can influence and reflect our world.”
Click here to find out more about V&A Dundee.
