In Search of the Blue Flower

Alexander Hamilton is Chair of The Scottish Society for the History of Photography and is co-editor of the Journal Studies in Photography. Alexander has 50 years of professional engagement in the visual arts world. He is a practicing artist exploring connections within ecology and the arts. His work has been widely exhibited in Scotland as well as internationally in Italy, Poland and New York.

Deep blue is the thread running through this unique book, which is a compelling compilation: an artist’s colorful biography, a rich collection of thought-provoking essays and a gallery of remarkably detailed contemplative cyanotype photograms. Its most riveting aspect is Hamilton’s ability to integrate stark opposites in his life and artwork. Always true to his profound connection to nature and the Scottish landscape, Alexander Hamilton was shaped by the artistic rebellions of the 1960s. He reveled in this exuberant renewal of energy, working in vibrant cities like New York, while remaining calm and connected to the land. His engagement in social and collaborative work did not stop him developing an idiosyncratic style. His astounding cyanotypes were true to the origins of the process, while ground-breaking in their delicate details and use of the plant’s own colors. The high-quality matt paper of the picture section of this edition allows Hamilton’s photograms to exude all their supple beauty.

• Introduction In Search of the Blue FlowerEarly yearsEdinburgh College of ArtStromaCommunity ArtsNew YorkParisThe Photographers’ GalleryPublic Service and Life Science TrustPublic Arts , Exhibitions, ResidencyThe Great Divide The Fruitmarket Gallery, 2002Landscape in 22 Movements Perth Concert Hall, 2004Glenfinlas Edinburgh Arts Festival, 2008Theory of the Petal Dobre, 2007Blue Flora Celtica Foksal Gallery, Warsaw, 2008Sensorium Brantwood House and Lancaster University, 2009The Trace Muzalewska Gallery, Poznań, 2009On the Edge of the World – Darwin Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, 2010Stromata (touring exhibition) Scottish Highlands, 2011Designing for Dignity Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Glasgow, 2014The Life Science Trust, Pishwanton, 2019Further Observations on my Career as an ArtistThe Art of Cyanotype Essays on the Artist’s PracticeParadox in Blue, Mike WareThe Cyanotype Process, James BerryA Shining Aesthetic, Richard OvendenStrategy: Get Arts, Christian WeikopDunnet Head, Vanessa SellarsEmblem of a Quest Euan McArthurGlenfinlas, Julie LawsonBlue Flora Celtica, Gemma Rolls-BentleySensorium: Pictures from Nature’s Laboratory, Howard HullThe Trace, Jaromir JedlinskiThe Trace, Piotr TryjanowskiOn the Edge of the World British Council Exhibition, John Hope Gateway GalleryStromata, Christine GunnPishwanton, Alexander HamiltonHaar Wood, Sara StevensonThe Cyanotypes 1971- 2020BiographyTimelinePublications/References