Loop

Loop meets Libertines frontman Peter Doherty, who shares his thoughts on art as a form of rehabilitation after taking part in a life drawing session with prisoners at HMP Barlinnie, as well as opening up about his own recovery. From a blank page to a leather-bound treasure, bookbinder Gillian Stewart takes us through the satisfying process of creating a handmade book. In Edinburgh, Dawn Irvine is at Capital Theatres to chat accessible art and how to tailor it to those living with dementia. We also hear from Willy Gilder, who after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in early 2021, recognises more than ever the importance of having access to arts and culture. Stepping into the otherworldly creations of set designer Furmaan Ahmed, Loop goes behind the scenes on a shoot with Glasgow band Walt Disco, as Furmaan explains how their work serves as a form of escapism from the reality we live in.

Having moved from Pakistan to Pollokshields with her parents in the 1960s, comedian and actor Lubna Kerr reflects on a life spent straddling Scottish and Pakistani culture and comedy, and the boxes she has had to tick along the way. In the Scottish Borders, Michelle de Bruin shuts out the noisy stoneyard around her as she takes us through the quiet, contemplative art of stonecarving. After one case changed everything for former social care worker David McHarg, he decided to quit the profession and teach socially isolated people in his community how to build guitars from scratch, and in turn find his own happiness. Sculptor Josie Ko’s vibrant personality is evident in her colourful, whimsical sculptures, though behind the over-the-top wigs lies a more serious message rooted in racist stereotypes that Josie wants to turn on their head through her art.

Loop tells the story of Shatha Altowai and her husband Saber, artists from Yemen who made the decision to flee their home after escalation in the civil war made it impossible to practise their art. Having found a safe haven in Edinburgh, they are now using their creativity to highlight the plight of those still trapped in the conflict. On the Isle of Lewis, Netty Sopata takes us through the art of kilt making and shares the reasons why creating traditional garments using wool from her own flock of sheep is important to her. Teenage photographer Dylan Lombard doesn’t go anywhere without his camera. At the age of ten he was diagnosed with MDP syndrome, a condition that affects only 13 other people in the world. Looking different to his classmates, Dylan felt isolated growing up, until his parents bought him a camera and what began as a coping method soon became an obsession.

Returning to the Isle of Lewis after studying in Glasgow, photographer and mask-maker Danielle MacLeod found herself inspired by the landscapes around her. But having deconverted from her Christian faith, a big part of her islander identity was gone. Danielle tells Loop how she created a new set of values for herself and brought them to life by photographing handmade masks created from Lewis’s natural materials. Graeme ‘Nash’ Latto was a prolific tattoo artist in Dundee from the late 1970s until his passing in 2006. Now his son Gary is on a mission to photograph and collect stories from as many of his dad’s former clients as possible, as a way to preserve the art but also reconnect with his dad after all this time. Having created hats for royals and celebrities alike, Sally-Ann Provan knows her way around a lace embellishment. She sheds a light on the delicate art of millinery, from blocking and steaming to meticulously shaping realistic rose petals.