WE SAT DOWN WITH ARTIST FIONA MACKENZIE TO DISCUSS HER NEW EXHIBITION ‘SACRED’ ON DISPLAY AT HIGHLAND PRINT STUDIO, AND WHAT SACRED MEANS TO HER
SACRED is a deeply personal exhibition by Fiona Mackenzie — a visual essay on what it means to hold something sacred. Through intricate wood engravings, expressive paintings, and collected ephemera, Mackenzie invites us to look closer at the precious elements of life often overlooked: the fading song of the curlew, the fleeting bloom of a flower, the silent symbolism of ancient deities and devotional icons.
Blending secular and religious imagery, the work celebrates reverence in all its forms — from the Sacred Heart to the Cat Goddess of Egypt — offering a contemplative space to ‘see’ and treasure the sacred threads woven through our shared world.
The exhibition is accompanied by an introduction from local author Brian Devlin.
HPS: Fiona, Could you introduce this collection of works to us? Where did this idea of showing the ‘Sacred’ come from?
Fiona: The embodiment of everyday things like daisies, birds, trees. The historical emblems/ symbols such as the Luckenbooth brooch, the Sacred Heart, the moon, the stars… Poetry and texts echoing the reverence and adoration of our world. Having studied History of Art, my mind is drawn to the iconography of old works and the depictions of small details such as the goldfinch, plants called weeds, things which are not ‘ simple’ but wonderful. They were often in altar pieces and tapestries telling of the universe.
HPS: What does ‘Sacred’ mean to you?
Fiona: It means to me CARE more about this planet, our world, it’s not just our home, we share it. These creatures and the earth are precious and sacred. We seem to predate on their very existence.
HPS: Could you tell us a bit more about your process, how do you work, where do you start?
Fiona: Dreaming is part of the process, daydreams, and night dreaming, and staying up through the small hours. Things appear; and then I remember and draw them. I am fond of early Renaissance works and medieval texts, and through history- writings from the past, from all cultures and of course contemporary pieces. A ribbon of thoughts from cave paintings to Banksy commenting on our blind spots.
HPS: And where do you end? When do you know that something is done or that you are happy with it?
Fiona: Ending, finishing a piece is an odd journey – too and fro mentally and physically engaging with each work. Trying not to ruin or overstep the essence, the light, the air within paintings and drawings. Not losing the composition, the story/feeling within the prints.
HPS: Where did your collaboration with author Brian Devlin come from for this exhibition, and how has what Brian has written fed into your work for this show and the display?
Fiona: Brian Devlin, the author, is a dear friend and mentor of all things sacred. He has written and published on the very nature of Sacred and having lived in the both the religious and secular world he is perfect for projects like this. He wrote his piece while l worked on my art and the two combined resonated with each other. He knows my art and my thoughts.
HPS: Your work, and this exhibition, they invite us to look at the Sacred within all of our own lives- what are your hopes, if any, that visitors and viewers might take from this exhibition?
Fiona: I hope it is a thought-provoking exhibition and of course, enjoyable. Basically – marks on paper, but heartfelt.
SACRED will be on display at Highland Print Studio from 23rd August to 4th October
Admission: FREE
Open hours:
Tuesday – Saturday
10am – 6pm
(closed for lunch at 1:30pm for an hour each day)