Bilingual transcription: Ealain

Watch this còmhradh (conversation) between Luc and Etta.

LUC: An deach sibh dhan ghailearaidh ealaine bheag ùr fhathast Etta?

Have you been to the new wee art gallery yet Etta?

ETTA: Cha deach, ach thèid mi ann feasgar Disathairne. An deach thu fhèin ann?

No, but I’ll go on Saturday afternoon. Have you been?

LUC: Chaidh mi ann an-dè.

I went yesterday.

ETTA: An do chòrd e riut?

Did you like it?

LUC: Chòrd e rium. Tha cuid den obair ealaine glè inntinneach.

I liked it. Some of the artwork is quite interesting.

ETTA: Dè an seòrsa ealaine a chì thu ann?

What kind of art can you see there?

LUC: Chì thu ealain glè eadar-dhealaichte ann. Chunnaic mi dealbhan air am peantadh, dealbhan a chaidh a thogail le camara agus tha obair shnaighte ann cuideachd.

There’s different kinds of art. There are paintings, photos taken by camera and there are sculptures as well.

ETTA: Thèid mi ann gun teagamh. Bha ùidh aig mo chèile nach maireann ann an ealain.

I’ll definitely go. My late husband was interested in art.

LUC: Dè an seòrsa ealaine as fheàrr leibh Etta?

What kind of art do you prefer, Etta?

ETTA: Is toil leam dealbhan air am peantadh. Tha mi air tadhal air iomadh gailearaidh ealaine.

I like paintings. I’ve visited many art galleries.

LUC: Oh, càite?

Where?

ETTA: Chaidh mi gu gailearaidhean ealaine anns an Òlaind agus anns an Eadailt.

I’ve been to art galleries in Holland and Italy.

LUC: Am faca sibh dealbhan ainmeil?

Did you see any famous paintings?

ETTA: Nuair a bha sinn ann an Amsterdam, bha dealbh ainmeil le Rembrandt ann am meadhan an taigh-tasgaidh.

When we were in Amsterdam, there was a well-known Rembrandt in the middle of the museum.

LUC: Dè an dealbh a bha sin?

What painting was that?

ETTA: De Nachtwacht anns a’ chànan aige fhèin -Freiceadan na h-Oidhche. Tha meud mòr ann,mu cheithir meatairean a dh’ àirde.

De Nachtwacht in his own language. The Night Watch. It’s huge, about four metres high.

LUC: Le ainm mar sin, a bheil e dorcha?

With a name like that, is it dark?

ETTA: Bha e glè dhorcha gus an do ghlan iad e! Tha dath dubh ann ach tha dathan soilleir an siud ’s an seo–dearg agus buidhe. Tha sgàil agus solas a’ toirt dràma mòr dhan dealbh. Dè an seòrsa ealaine as fheàrr leat fhèin?

It was very dark until they cleaned it. It’s black in colour but there are lighter colours here and there –red and yellow. Shadow and light make the painting very dramatic. What kind of artwork do you like?

LUC: Tha ùidh agamsa ann an obair camara ach is toil leam a bhith a’ dol dhan ghailearaidh mhòr sa bhaile nuair a bhios taisbeanadh ùr ann.

I’m interested in photography but I like going to the large gallery in town when there’s a new exhibition.

ETTA: Thèid mise an sin uair sa mhìos. Bidh mi a’ coiseachd mun cuairt leam fhèin a’ coimhead air an obair ealaine.

I go there once a month. I walk around by myself just looking at the artwork.

LUC: An do rinn sibh obair ealaine a-riamh?

Have you ever created any art?

ETTA: (le gàire) Oh nach ist thu, cha do rinn! Chan eil mi math air dealbh a tharraing agus chan eil mi math air dealbh a thogail. Bidh mise a’ fighe!

(laughs) Be quiet, no I haven’t! I’m not good at drawing pictures or at taking photos. I knit!

LUC: ’S e seòrsa de dh’obair ealaine a tha sin.

That’s a kind of artwork.

ETTA: Tha dà rud eile a tha math mun ghailearaidh mhòr.

There are two other things which are great about the large gallery.

LUC: A bheil?

Are there?

ETTA: Tha cafaidh brèagha ann, agus tha a’ chèic aca math fhèin!

There’s a nice café and their cake is exceptionally good!

In the Còmhradh (Conversation) Etta described to us the look of a painting called ‘Nachtwacht’ or Freiceadan na h‑Oidhche (The Night Watch). Luke asked Etta about the colours of the painting and she said that the sgàil agus solas (shade and light) gave the painting drama.