Fear and Fascination Arrives at the Sir Duncan Rice Library
The new exhibition explores monsters, fear and the cultural pull of horror.
A new exhibition opening at the University of Aberdeen this month invites visitors to explore the shadows. Fear and Fascination: A Gothic Exhibition digs into how stories of horror and the supernatural reflect deeper truths about what we fear, what we value, and how we see ourselves.
Running from 19 May to 7 December at the Sir Duncan Rice Library, the exhibition draws on Gothic literature from the 18th and 19th centuries. These were the years when ghosts, vampires and other strange figures made their way from the page into popular imagination.
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Monsters and Meaning
The exhibition features rare and early editions of landmark texts, including The Castle of Otranto, The Picture of Dorian Gray, and Ghost Stories of an Antiquary by M. R. James. These works form the backbone of Gothic fiction, exploring ideas of transgression, fear and the unknown.
Curator Christina Mackenzie said, “Gothic literature has an enduring appeal, as shown by the popularity of many of these texts centuries after they were written. This has been such a fun and revealing exhibition to work on… the way these texts tell scary stories on the surface, but have been reinterpreted over time to question the monstrosity of the ‘monsters’.”
Modern interpretations bring new depth to these stories. Themes drawn from queer theory and postcolonial studies help challenge who is cast as a villain, and why. Visitors are invited to think critically about how society creates monsters—and who benefits when we do.
A Space to Read and Create
A standout feature of the show is the interactive storytelling space. Here, visitors can try their hand at crafting their own Gothic plotlines. There’s also a Victorian-inspired reading nook designed for quiet moments with classic fiction.
The exhibition opens with a talk by writer Sophie Coulombeau on 29 May. Her talk, Brothers and Lovers: Frances Burney and the Gothic, is the first in a programme of events running alongside the exhibition.
Looking Beyond the Fear
While the setting is steeped in eerie tales, the questions raised by the exhibition reach far beyond the supernatural. Fear and Fascination encourages visitors to think about why we return to these stories, and how our fears shift alongside the world around us.
The exhibition is open to all, with no need for literary expertise. Just bring your curiosity and a willingness to explore the darker corners of imagination.
Fear and Fascination runs from 19 May to 7 December in The Gallery at the Sir Duncan Rice Library. Opening hours are 11am–7pm Monday to Friday, and 1pm–4pm on weekends. Event details are at abdn.ac.uk/collections/whats-on.
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