Glaswegian Artist Brings Working-Class Nostalgia to the South

Trackie McLeod, a 32-year-old artist from Glasgow, has spent the past decade turning images and humor from his working-class childhood in the late 1990s and early 2000s into gallery art. His latest exhibition, titled "Soft Play," is now on display at the prestigious Charleston gallery in Lewes, Sussex, where some of his references may not always translate but the wider themes of nostalgia and shared working-class experiences resonate.

Despite the cultural differences, McLeod is determined to bring his unique perspective into spaces that often feel closed off to people like him. His work, which is heavily influenced by Scottish humor and vocabulary, aims to challenge the elitism of the art world. One of his pieces, featuring the phrase "No wee dafties," left some southern English attendees puzzled at the opening night, highlighting the need for adaptation.

However, McLeod believes that nostalgia is a transferable theme, and his new exhibition focuses more on the shared experiences of working-class youth, rather than specific Scottish references. His pieces, which recreate the parks and community spaces where he and his peers spent their youth, explore the idea of play and how growing up too soon can be a reality for those from working-class backgrounds.