kay mclafferty
McLafferty’s practice is centred on the preservation of the Scots language and its many dialects. Using coded systems such as Morse code, McLafferty embeds Scots words into sculptural forms and hand-drawn patterns. In doing so, language assumes a physical forms that can be seen, touched and experienced rather than simply spoken or read.
This work exists at the intersection of language, structure and materiality. Each artwork carries meaning beneath the surface, asking the viewer to consider what is hidden, what is overlooked and what is worth protecting. The use of code reflects a historical truth: only things of immense value are, and were, ever encrypted. McLafferty treats the Scots language with the same reverence, encoding it to safeguard and elevate it.
These sculptures and drawings do not offer immediate clarity. Instead, they invite careful observation and interpretation. By placing coded language into physical space, McLafferty aims to create forms that speak persistently about Scotland’s linguistic cultural heritage.
