Alasdair Gray: InspirationAl
To Kat and Tracy, Alasdair Gray is Uncle Alasdair. An exiting, unpredictable relative who turned up as unexpectedly as his presents and was always ready to welcome us into his life whenever we were in Glasgow.
Find out more about A genius Uncle
Alasdair was also a creative inspiration to writers, artists and thinkers of all kinds - including us! Working as a painter, novelist, poet and designer, he spent his life demonstrating that creative boundaries were there to be crossed. His fiercely independent vision gave permission to countless others to work boldly and on their own terms. To encounter Alasdair's work was to feel that the rules did not apply, and that anything was possible.
These are just a few of the things Alasdair Gray is to us...
Fantastic Al
Alasdair Gray and his work are FantasticAl in so many ways. His love of creating and inhabiting imaginary worlds as a child never left him. And he shares his fantastic visions with all of us in his art.
Alasdair talks about some of the work that influenced his Gothic novel Poor Things hear more...
Inspiration Al
Alasdair is InspirationAl to so many of us through his work and as a person. His art changed our perception of Glasgow. And his humanity and compassion is as inspiring as his endless creativity. He was very far from perfect. But he’s definitely special.
Alasdair reads the famous passage about Glasgow from his novel Lanark hear more…
Monument Al
The scale and settings of Alasdair’s work may vary but his themes are MonumentAl. His work is an ongoing creative conversation with the big names of art and literature and he was always interested in seeing the big picture and exploring the big questions and the big ideas.
Alasdair reads an excerpt from the Epilogue of Lanark where the hero meets his author hear more…
Exception Al
Alasdair’s take on the world is always ExceptionAl. He was as conscious of his own frailties and limitations as he was compassionate to those of others. And challenging our man-made norms is a fundamental characteristic of his work.
Alasdair reads the first part of his essay New Kelvingrove from Of Me And Others hear more…
Politic Al
Alasdair and his work are profoundly and unapologetically PoliticAl. He was a lifelong socialist and supporter of Scottish Independence. A relentless critic of the ways in which we fail ourselves and others. And a determined optimist in believing we can be and do better.
Alasdair talks about H G Wells’ work and reads an excerpt from The First Men in the Moon hear more…
Lyric Al
Alasdair is often described as a polymath and there are no hard lines between the different genres in his creative output. He wrote poetry throughout his life and his novels can be as LyricAl as his verses and the curving lines of his visual art.
Alasdair reads selected poems from his collection Old Negatives hear more…
Digit Al
Alasdair Gray is often seen as a quintessentially analogue creator. But to us there’s something inherently Digit Al about the cut and paste way Alasdair worked, the multi-media work he created and his vast, hyperlinked brain.
Alasdair reads his slyly sinister short story The Trendelenburg Position hear more…
Alasdair Gray’s creative DNA
Alasdair Gray’s Creative DNA is an interactive video experience based on interviews with four of Alasdair’s key creative collaborators - people who worked with him for many years and have an intimate understanding of his creative character and process.
Explore more…
A Gray’s place
After Alasdair Gray died his flat was cleared and sold. But you can still visit it.
