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Friends of The Sivell Murals Aberdeen
About Us
For over twenty years the unique and important Sivell murals have not been publicly accessible.
Established in March 2024, the “Friends of the Sivell murals, Aberdeen” is a group of art enthusiasts who are working to ensure these paintings are preserved.
Chair – Marion White.
Secretary – Julia Strickland
Treasurer – Alan Fraser
Our Mission
To promote knowledge & conservation of the murals and access for the public benefit.
The Building
Originally a Victorian emporium, this iconic building became the Student Union of the University of Aberdeen in 1939.
A new Hall was the centrepiece.
For decades the hall was used for dances with many big bands appearing.
Latterly it was repurposed as the “Sivell Bar”.
Twenty years ago, the University of Aberdeen sold the building.
The Murals
Robert Sivell was Head of Drawing and Painting at Gray’s School of Art.
Commissioned by students Sivell designed the series of wall paintings to depict “The Pageant of Life”.
Commencing in 1939 he continued to work on this project through the difficult war years.
He was assisted by former students notably Alberto Morrocco and Gordon S Cameron.
In 1953 the murals were widely acclaimed.
In one panel a newborn baby signifies hope amidst the destruction of war.
Our Work
We have established a record of the people involved and the history of the building.
We seek to work in partnership to find a new use for the Hall and to restore this significant part of the city’s cultural heritage.
Become a Friend
If you would like to join and share in our work, please download, complete and return the application form.
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Read MoreFAQs
Who commissioned the Sivell murals?
It appears that University students wished to decorate the central Hall in the new Student Union.
Much of the funding was by public subscription.
What is the theme of the murals?
There are at least three themes: The Journey of Life, The Ideal of Academic Life and the Destructive Force of War.
The aftermath of the bombing of Aberdeen in WW2 is depicted in two of the eight large panels, with a newborn child signifying hope.
Who assisted Sivell?
We are still investigating this.
Taylor Bremner, James Hillocks and Alberto Morrocco, graduated in 1937 and these artists are named in newspaper coverage in 1939. Morrocco completed a Postgraduate Diploma in 1938 and has written that he assisted in the composition for 15 months before he too was called for military service.Gordon S Cameron, having graduated in 1939, was awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in 1940. He could then assist Sivell for several years because he was exempt from active service because of illness. Cameron and Morrocco were appointed part-time lecturers at Gray’s School of Art and both contributed further to the murals before they re-located to Dundee.
How were the murals received?
The murals were widely praised when they were completed in 1953.
In his introduction to Sivell’s Memorial Exhibition catalogue in 1960, Sir W O Hutchison, Past President of the RSA, wrote “that the decoration of the hall is without doubt the greatest mural painting carried out in Scotland during this century and perhaps any other and one must express the hope that it will be preserved”.
Who owns the Sivell Murals?
The Student Union building is now under the ownership of the Bon Accord Shopping Centre.
Can the murals be seen?
At present there is no public access to the Hall.
Once access is restored, the protective paper, which was applied to the murals in 2007, will have to be removed by experts. Only then can there be an assessment of how much specialist conservation work on the paintings will be required.
What is the legal status of the “ Friends of the Sivell Murals, Aberdeen"?
We are an Unincorporated Association.
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The Friends of the Sivell Murals, Aberdeen
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