Art is Magic

Deller’s Book Festival event is called It’s Time To Lose Control, named after the fourth chapter of Art Is Magic. ‘That’s the most meaty chapter in the book,’ he says, ‘and I suppose I wanted to have something a bit cryptic. There are two or three big projects in that chapter, all of which have their own degree of risk and chaos.’ Regarding his move from making things to making things happen, Deller puts it down to ‘Acid Brass’.

‘That brass band liberated me from having to make objects and be an artist in that sense. They made me understand that I could work with people and do projects. They were so easy-going and made everything so straightforward, even though I was asking them to do something that probably sounded a bit odd. You rely on people who are just going to be up for doing something a bit different, and seeing where it goes.’

If there is a thread running through Deller’s work, it is arguably about making connections, both in terms of himself and others. ‘I suppose it’s about connecting people, and connecting ideas that might not be thought of as being connected, like a brass band playing acid-house music, and trying to find some common ground.’ While human connection is obviously important to Deller, he admits he’s not very hopeful about the state of the world. ‘I never have been. I don’t feel very confident about the future of humanity, but I try to make art to keep me hopeful about things, to keep me engaged with the world and what’s going on in it.’

Jeremy Deller, Edinburgh College Of Art, 22 August, 5.45pm.

DAVID GREIG & ALAN WARNER

Two highly influential Scottish writers pair up for this event on the back of their recent works about ancient legends: Greig takes on 9th-century Iona and Warner (pictured) tackles the 18th-century fallout from Culloden.

n 16 August, 1.30pm.

KIRSTY LOGAN & JOHANNE LYKKE HOLM

Dismantling the all-enveloping power of patriarchy, Logan (pictured) and Holm analyse how witches (and their callous historic treatment) can say so much about marginalised communities in today’s ‘civilised’ society. n 12 August, 5.15pm.

Annie Macmanus

Superstar DJ turned bestselling author, Macmanus is in town to chat about her second novel. The Mess We’re In tracks back to the turn of this century as troubled Orla leaves Ireland to make her way in London.

n 26 August, 5pm.