A modern-day reinterpretation of a birds-eye view of 19th century Glasgow has been put on public display.
Will Knight's highly-detailed panorama of Glasgow, a contemporary recreation of a historic view by Victorian illustrator Thomas Sulman, is the centrepiece of a free exhibition being held at the New Glasgow Society at 1307 Argyle Street until Sunday, 14 May.
Comparing Sulman's 1864 view with the Knight map, which was commissioned as part of the Gallus Glasgow project by the Glasgow City Heritage Trust (GCHT), allows us to see at a glance the many changes that have taken place in the city centre since the 19th century.
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Looking north from a high vantage point south of the Clyde, Knight's updated view is an incredibly-detailed snapshot of modern-day Glasgow. Displayed alongside Sulman’s map, it shows how the city has changed and developed over the last 150 years.
The exhibition also uses interactive elements to encourage visitors to ponder what the city will look like in the future.
Rachel Kacir, Heritage Manager at GCHT, said: “We’re really excited to have commissioned this map, following in Sulman’s footsteps, and leaving behind our own impression of Glasgow in 2022 for people to explore in another 150 years’ time.
"Will Knight has done an incredible job, and it’s been fascinating to watch his meticulous process as the map has developed over the last six months or so. Sulman’s map captures Glasgow at a turning point in the industrial revolution."
Glasgow-based artist Will Knight was selected for the commission following a competitive application process. Will studied Architecture at the Glasgow School of Art, and this training has informed his approach to understanding the dynamic relationship between people and place.
He has spent the last ten years observing, recording and interpreting Glasgow’s built environment - from the celebrated work of Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson to the ubiquitous tiled tenement close; from some of the city’s cherished eateries to the scratch bakery and local newsagent.
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Every subject is explored through measurement and drawn by hand, elevating everyday buildings so that they are revealed afresh.
Will Knight said “I have thoroughly enjoyed creating a new contemporary map drawing of Glasgow. Just as the Glasgow City Heritage Trust work on historic structures designed and built by historic architects in the city, so, I have researched, traced, marked and overlaid my contemporary map on the detailed map left by architectural illustrator Sulman.
"The new drawing will hopefully give us a greater appreciation and value for the city’s historic buildings, whilst also provoking us to consider what might change in the next 150 years, and what we might value in the city in the years to come.”
Fans of either map who fancy owning their own copy are in luck, as beautiful high quality prints have been specially produced as part of the project, as well as a range of postcards. These will be available to buy at the exhibition or can be purchased through GCHT’s online shop. Every purchase supports the Trust to continue providing opportunities for people to learn about and enjoy Glasgow’s historic built environment.
For more information about the Gallus Glasgow project visit the dedicated microsite here.
Locals can now explore the Knight map in great detail alongside the Sulman map on the site. A new fader function enables the viewer to move gradually between the two maps, showing how the city has changed.
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