DRIVE! is now open at The Richard Demarco Gallery
DRIVE! is now open at The Richard Demarco Gallery. Our second major exhibition at Papple Steading brings together archival materials with works from contemporary artists to look at automotive culture in fresh ways.
The show celebrates and interrogates the invention of the automobile: from the skill and precision of world champion racing drivers to the creativity of customisation and the energy of driving culture.
Archival Heritage & Contemporary Vision
A centerpiece of the exhibition is the original photography of Formula One world champion Jim Clark. A farmer’s son from the Scottish Borders, Clark famously considered racing his “hobby” and farming his true occupation. This connection between the track and the land is a theme that resonates throughout Papple, whose owner is also the son of a farmer.
The exhibition features a diverse group of contemporary artists whose work explores these themes in multifaceted ways:
- Toby Messenger’s life-size motorbike, Where Angels Fear to Tread (For Dad), is a poignant lo-fi construction built from recycled cardboard and his late father’s old OS road maps.
- Harriet Bowman, who grew up on a Devon sheep farm, presents Doughnut (attempt) III, a sculpture made from the fused glass of smashed car windows found roadside.
- Charlie Duck’s playful ceramic “traffic jam” features unique car multiples positioned nose-to-tail, inspired by the satirical Seven-minute-long traffic scene in Jean-Luc Godard’s film Week End.
- Jaime Gili, known for his art cars, designed the Toyota Yaris GR on display at the steading. Its “moving painting” design evokes the rolling hills of the East Lothian landscape surrounding Papple.
- Babalola Yusuf investigates the archetypal symbols of racing, such as the checkered flag, transmuting these forms into painterly explorations of energy and fulfillment.
- Naomi Frears presents Cars and Girls, a film capturing a choreographed performance of 40 cars parking in sequence, exploring movement and shared experience.
A Shared Ethos
Hosted within our beautifully restored historic farm steading, DRIVE! reflects Papple’s interest in built heritage and new visions. We are grateful for the support of Porsche, whose values of innovation are inherent in this exhibition.
Visit Us: The exhibition runs from 27 March until 26 September 2026. Winter Opening Hours: Thursday to Monday, 10am – 6pm. The Richard Demarco Gallery, Papple Steading, Haddington.
The exhibition is curated by artist Siobhan McLaughlin.
For more details on the artists and works featured, please visit our official exhibition page.
