Skip to main content
Other websites
Contemporary art collection
Contemporary art collectionEuropean Parliament

European Parliament

Contemporary art collection

Ionic Pastoral

Alex FLETT

Ionic Pastoral © EP 2021

United Kingdom, 1996

Oil on canvas, painted ram skull, wood and slate, 214 x 197 cm

Purchased from the artist in 1999

A navigator of abstraction and conceptualism, Alex Flett has a unique artistic relationship with the European Parliament. He studied painting at the Central St Martin’s, Winchester School of Art and the Slade School of Fine Art in London. Like most artists of his generation, the romantically charged organicist writings of the late 19th century – such as D’Arcy Thompson’s On Growth & Form for example – had a lasting impact on his conception of form. His partnership with the European Parliament began with Celtic Odyssey, a sculpture that was shown in Strasbourg. From this opportunity subsequently stemmed a solo exhibition, ‘Aspects’, initially presented in Brussels and later Bruges, Maastricht and Ayr, in the artist’s native Scotland. Following this successful collaboration, the artist was invited – via the European Parliament – to become the European advisor for the International Working Group of the ‘Amasiko’ (Cultural) Programme of the XIII International Aids Conference in Durban, South Africa. This position, coupled with Flett’s pre-existing work relating to the AIDS epidemic, led him to undertake various projects in the region. Ionic Pastoral is illustrative of Flett’s capacity to mesh graphic abstraction with conceptual scenography. The painted canvas delimits the space of an installation completed by a pillar surmounted by a ram’s skull. The painting base (oil on canvas) uses Imagery from the old Celtic practise of erecting donut shaped stones through which were passed the sick, particularly children suffering from the vitamin deficiency disease Rickets, by way of a magical cure. This ancient concept is further reflected by the use of the Rams skull sitting on its shale covered wooden fence post reflecting "pagan" ignorance. However, inserted within the eyes sockets are glass lenses on the back of which are painted small Celtic Crosses. Old Celtic saints, particularly St. Columba of Iona would take over old Celtic Pagan sites and Christianise them with a cross. The Island of Iona, on the west coast of Scotland, is one of the earliest Christian foundation in Europe (6th Cent) and, as well as being the means by which Scotland became a modern Christian nation, is the burial place of its early monarchs, and the late John Smith, Scottish Socialist and former leader of the British Labour Party. Rickets and other such vitamin deficiente diseases were a serious social problem both in Scotland and Europe for hundreds of years right up to and including this present century. Many politicians of conscience, have fought to imporve both the diet and living standards of those most at risk, as St Columba fought for the soul of a small wild country 14 centuries ago. A parallel battle against that worst of enemies, ignorance. The Artist hopes that "IONIC PASTORAL" will inspire Politicians within the European Parliament to work towards the eradication of ignorance and disease wherever they are. In 1999 artist Alex Flett was invited to exhibit the solo exhibition “Aspects” in Brussels at the European Parliament buildings (facilitated by Alex Smith MEP). The show moved to Bruges in Belgium, Maastricht in Holland, and to the MacLaurin Gallery in Ayr, Scotland. The artist is also represented in many public collections, including the National Museum of Scotland and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

More artists from the following country:
United Kingdom

TIMELINE
01PE20070590848_A

Ionic Pastoral

Alex FLETT

Click on the coloured dots and discover the european historical context

Browse the calendar and discover the european historical context

  • 1989
  • 1990
  • 1991
  • 1992
  • 1993
  • 1994
  • 1995
  • 1996
  • 1997
  • 1998
  • 1999
  • 2000
  • 2001
  • 2002
  • 2003
  • 2004
  • 2005
  • 2006
  • 2007
  • 2008
  • 2009

  • 1989

    Fall of the Berlin Wall

    After weeks of civil unrest, the East German authorities open the crossing of the Berlin Wall in an act that symbolises the end of communist rule in Eastern Europe.

    Enrique Barón Crespo

    Enrique Barón Crespo served as President of the European Parliament from 1989 to 1992.

    3rd European elections

    In the third elections for the European Parliament a total of 518 MEPs from 12 countries are elected. The Socialists get more seats than anyone else (about 35%).

  • 1990

    Reunification of Germany

    East Germany is reunified with the Federal Republic of Germany. Parliament welcomes 18 non-voting observers to represent the new German provinces until elections in 1994.

    2nd round of acquisitions

    Continuation of the 2nd round of acquisitions: Belgium, Denmark, Germany and Greece.

  • 1991

    Wars in former Yugoslavia

    Slovenia and Croatia declare independence from Yugoslavia. Tensions between the nations that have been part of the collapsing federation lead to violent wars for much of the following decade despite peace-making efforts by Western powers.

    2nd round of acquisitions

    Continuation of the 2nd round of acquisitions: Greece and France.

  • 1992

    Egon A. Klepsch

    Egon A. Klepsch served as President of the European Parliament from 1992 to 1994.

    2nd round of acquisitions

    Continuation of the 2nd round of acquisitions: Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

  • 1993

    Maastricht Treaty

    The Maastricht Treaty paves the way for the creation of the European Union and the euro. It introduces the codecision procedure giving Parliament an equal say with the Council in some areas of legislation and gives Parliament the power to approve the Commission as a whole.

    Continuation of the 2nd round of acquisitions: the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

  • 1994

    Klaus Hänsch

    Klaus Hänsch served as served as President of the European Parliament from 1994 to 1997.

    1994 European elections

    European elections are held for the fourth time. A total of 567 members of the European Parliament from 12 countries are elected with the Socialists forming the largest group (35%) ahead of the centre-right EPP (28%).

  • 1995

    Enlargement

    Austria, Finland and Sweden join the EU bringing the number of member states to 15.

  • 1997

    José María Gil-Robles

    José María Gil-Robles served as President of the European Parliament from 1997 to 1999.

    Signature of Amsterdam Treaty

    Signing of the Amsterdam Treaty. The Treaties establishing the European Communities and a few related acts were signed in the presence of the President of the European Parliament, José María Gil-Robles.

  • 1998

    Belfast Agreement

    The signing of the ‘Good Friday’ or ‘Belfast Agreement’ between the Irish and the British governments led to the end of 30 years of conflict in Northern Ireland.

  • 1999

    1999 European elections

    Voters from 15 EU countries go to the polls to elect 626 MEPs. The centre-right EPP-ED becomes the largest political group for the first time.

    Nicole Fontaine

    Nicole Fontaine served as President of the European Parliament from 1999 to 2002.

    EURO

    The euro was introduced to world financial markets as an accounting currency on 1 January 1999, replacing the former European Currency Unit (ECU).

    Amsterdam Treaty

    The Amsterdam treaty simplifies and broadens the application of the codecision lawmaking procedure. Parliament gets the right to approve the Commission president.

  • 2000

    Charter of Fundamental Rights

    The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU is solemnly proclaimed after having been drafted by a European convention with the active involvement of MEPs.

    Article 13.
    Freedom of the arts and sciences. The arts and scientific research shall be free of constraint. Academic freedom shall be respected.

    Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (2000/C 364/01)

    Acquisition programme

    3rd round of acquisitions with Austria, Finland and Sweden.

  • 2001

    National parliaments exhibiton in Brussels and Strasbourg. This exhibition was created at the initiative of President Gil Robles and was officially opened on 17 December 2001 by the then President Nicole Fontaine. It consists of works of art donated or loaned by 15 national parliaments.

  • 2002

    Pat Cox

    Pat Cox served as President of the European Parliament from 2002 to 2004.

    Euro is launched

    Euro notes and coins come into circulation – a crucial stage in the construction of an economic and monetary union in Europe.

  • 2003

    Treaty of Nice

    The Treaty of Nice reforms EU institutions to allow for the EU enlargement to Eastern Europe. It further extends the application of codecision.

  • 2004

    2004 European elections

    Elections for the European parliament take place in 25 member states. The centre-right EPP-ED win 37% of the 736 seats.

    Josep Borrell

    Josep Borrell served as President of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2007.

    Eastern enlargement

    Ten countries, mostly from Eastern Europe, join the EU in the largest enlargement so far: Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.

  • 2007

    Hans-Gert Pöttering

    Hans-Gert Pöttering served as President of the European Parliament from 2007 to 2009.

    Acquisition programme

    Acquisition programme of works of art from Cyprus, Czechia and Estonia following the Bureau decision from 13 December 2006

    Enlargement: Bulgaria, Romania

    Bulgaria and Romania join the EU.

  • 2008

    Acquisition programme of works of art from Hungary and Latvia following the Bureau decision from 13 December 2006.

  • 2009

    2009 European elections

    In the seventh European elections voters from 27 countries elect 736 MEPs. The centre-right EPP retains its majority, taking about 36% of the seats, followed by the Socialists and Democrats with 25% and Liberals with 11%.

    Jerzy Buzek

    Jerzy Buzek served as President of the European Parliament from 2009 to 2012.

    Acquisition programme

    Acquisition programme of works of art from Poland and Lithuania following the Bureau decision from 13 December 2006

    Lisbon Treaty

    The Treaty of Lisbon completes the institutional reform of the EU and makes the Charter of Fundamental rights legally binding. The Parliament is put on an equal decision-making footing with EU governments in all but a few legal areas.

Share this page

Sign up for mail updates
Download our catalogue PDF