SUMMARY Scotching Scottish Clichés

The idea for this book came from writer Isabelle Gilbert and photographer Théodora Olivi’s shared ambition.
Their common interest in Scotland and a crossing of artistic paths led them to question the images which make up a country’s identity – its clichés.
For five months - between December 2008 and May 2009 - the two French artists scoured Scottish lands, pursuing one preconception after another. In ‘Scotching Scottish Clichés’ (‘Clichés Ecossés’ in French), they uncover a peculiar Scotland, populated by redundant ghosts, frightened monsters, divided clans and sheep in gestation.
The wandering authors find a balance between myth and documentary.

THE PUBLISHING PROCESS

The words ‘cliché’ and ‘stereotype’ were originally typographical terms. The cliché was a metal printing plate cast from movable type used to make identical prints in large quantities. Although the copies were of a lesser quality, the process enabled works to be more widely distributed.
For their first book, the authors of ‘Scotching Scottish Clichés’ (‘Clichés Ecossés’) have gone back to basics. An initial production of twenty hand-made artists’ books was followed by a run of three hundred self-published standard editions. The book is available in French and in English.

Théodora OLIVI Photographer, French

Once a sporting enthusiast, Théodora’s camera has gradually taken precedence over her kit bag. A born wanderer, always on the lookout for images, she spent some time at the ‘Ecole des Beaux Arts’ before specializing in cinema and photography at university. Her studies took her to Italy, but her passion took her to Scotland. Recently settled in Dijon, her days are filled working in an independent cinema, whilst her spare time is more often than not spent
in dark rooms or in her own world, taking photographs… much to her delight!

Isabelle GILBERT Writer, French

Whilst studying documentary film in Paris, Isabelle developed a critical perspective, which she soon after turned to the stage. She became an actor and permanent member of ‘Theatre des Minuits’ and, for five years, developed and discovered forms quite different from her original background. In 2008, she decided to begin telling stories in their purest form – by writing. Her passion for Scottish culture and her heterogeneous roots led her to bring to fruition
the texts of ‘Scotching Scottish clichés’ (‘Clichés Ecossés’) in which her words challenge and reconcile the real and the unreal.