Anthony Riello – Baltic Centre

At last, something in the Baltic that’s arresting, clever and surprising. Riello has created a tartan using the colours of the European flag (red/blue/yellow/white) then woven deliberate flaws into the fabric. The entire museum staff then wear his tartan clothes as walking exhibits. It’s all about identity. 

Tartan is a Scottish fabrication, as the clans had no specified tartan and the whole thing was invented by an English Quaker factory owner Rawlinson in 1740, then Sir Walter Scott in the 19th century. Like many Scottish traditions, it’s really a Victorian fabrication. On the way out you can buy his tartan tee-shirts in the Baltic shop – a nice touch.