Culture
ADIDAS ORIGINALS FW'23: Trackie McLeod & Being Unapologetically Yourself
3 October 2023Celebrating the launch of adidas Originals FW'23 collection, END. visited Glaswegian artist Trackie McLeod in his hometown to discuss Glasgow's impact on his practice and being your authentic self.
A city overflowing with culture, Glasgow has a time-honoured tradition of producing artists, musicians and cultural figures that embody the essence of the city – more so than any other place in Scotland. With a rich history of producing homegrown talent raised with a distinctive attitude and sensibility that reflects the climate of the city, Glasgow’s originality as a metropolis extends further than its instantly recognisable landmarks.
Born and raised in Glasgow, Trackie McLeod’s upbringing as a young, working-class queer person has informed his artistic practice since his time studying Graphic Design. Hosting his first solo exhibition, “Milk, Lemonade, Chocolate” in 2022 at The Pipe Factory in the East end of Glasgow’s iconic The Barrowlands, Trackie’s debut felt like something of a homecoming. “I'm a proud Glaswegian, though it took for me to leave to realise how important it is for my practice, proving the grass isn't always greener on the other side,” Trackie says on the topic of his home city. “Growing up there, aye, the backdrop was cold, grey and it was sometimes as hard as its exterior but underneath all that it's got heart. It's shaped me to have resilience and a thick skin which has made me a more determined person and artist. It's rich history, culture and humour has also given me a bank of inspiration and made for a Scottish centric point of view that is sometimes left out of the British art world.”
Often overtly political, Trackie’s practice combines his skills as a graphic designer with fine art techniques of sculpture and printmaking, all delivered through his tongue-in-cheek lens. “Politics in my work has been a non-linear journey. Having not grown up in a politically heavy household, the turning point was the Scottish referendum in 2014, as I nation I think we all had to become more politically engaged if we were to envision the future we deserve. When shit proper hit the fan in 2020, I couldn't not comment.” Fuelled by this need to reflect the current political situation, Trackie’s work found its voice through a re-contextualisation of a classic Glaswegian sense of humour, using this approach as a means of broadening the conversation. “I found using humour took the sting out of the reality of how bad things were and hopefully made for work that was more relatable. My aim as an artist is to engage people who otherwise wouldn't be and open up conversations.”
Celebrating Glasgow and using the city as a vehicle for opening potentially difficult discussions, Trackie’s work is underpinned with a deep love for the nuances that have combined to create a place that celebrates culture of all forms. “The remnants of Glasgow's post-industrial past can still be seen throughout the city's beautiful architecture, but like most places the fight against gentrification is very much underway. However, as a city of culture the spirit of Glasgow is kept alive through its music and arts scene. With nightlife institutions like The Barrowlands Ballroom, Sub Club and the rebirth of The Arches, Glasgow will never not bring the party.” An ever-changing place, and one that continues to inspire, Trackie ruminates further on the spirit of the city, “Glasgow's somewhere that packs a punch. Good or bad, what you see is what you get. With a national slogan like 'People Make Glasgow' surely, its people are what makes it original. It's a city very much rooted in community, voted 'friendliest city in the world', you only need to be stood at a local bus stop for someone to chew the ear off you.”
"Being original at its roots is about authenticity. Giving yourself the permission to be unapologetically you."
Repurposing Glaswegian slang from a queer perspective, Trackie’s practice reflects his experience growing up in the city, taking turns of phrases that people say and imbuing them with a new meaning - one that channels his own originality and authenticity. “Being original at its roots is about authenticity. Giving yourself the permission to be unapologetically you. Touching on my own experiences of growing up queer in Glasgow has been in the forefront of my work, often I reference the past as a way of highlighting how far we have come in the future. Glasgow's queer scene, though small, is thriving which has been enhanced by our multicultural landscape.”
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