THE Glasgow School of Art (GSA) has unveiled its 2021 digital Christmas card, titled The Mouse. 

The film is inspired by The Mouse King, from Tchaikovsky's much-loved ballet The Nutcracker, and follows The Mouse as it is caught on camera around Glasgow city centre.

The starting point for the piece was The Fox, a film that was projected onto the scaffolding around the Mackintosh Building for GSA's 2021 Graduate Showcase.

Artist and current MFA student Julia Johnstone, who commissioned the card, said: "The idea of the original work was a figure in a space - a fox sneaking around the scaffolding. 

"I wanted to keep the idea of creeping around in this new piece and it was great to be able to combine it with a Christmas theme. 

"Using a character that was originally a villain - the Mouse King in the Nutcracker - gave a lot of room to play with especially for Fashion designer Franz Maggs who designed the costume."

READ MORE: The story of Homemade: Glasgow's latest foodie sensation

Glasgow Times:

Glasgow Times:

For the piece, Julia brought together a team of creative collaborators including artists Eirini Kalogera and Lucas Orocozo, who collaborated with her on The Fox, fashion designer Franz Maggs and performer Sam Vaherlehto, a Ballet School of the Finnish National Opera graduate who is now studying Contemporary Performance Practice at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Vaherlehto's performance was first filmed against a green screen, before then being displayed in 10-second bursts on digital screens across Glasgow which were then filmed on location. 

Julia said: "A mouse king finds itself lost in the digital spaces around Glasgow at Christmas time... this familiar animal character with a Christmas theme appears in the "wrong" place and situation that it wouldn't usually find itself in."

"The digital screens around Glasgow city centre in Queen Street Railway Station, Buchanan Street Subway Station and Buchanan Street shopping area provide the stage for the mouse's performance. 

"The mouse king endeavours to discover the digital realm, dressed in purple and tulle splendour."

READ MORE: How to watch Lost At Christmas on BBC this festive season

Glasgow Times:

Glasgow Times:

Professor Penny Macbeth, director of The GSA, added: "We are delighted to share our 2021 digital Christmas card which has been commissioned from one of our 2021 graduates, Julia Johnstone. 

"Creative collaboration is core to the education experience at the GSA and in The Mouse Julia has brought together specialists from a wide range of different disciplines ranging from filmmaking to jewellery and fashion design, music and dance, to create something truly magical."

"It is a particular pleasure to see how students and graduates from the GSA, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Glasgow City College have joined forces in the making of The Mouse demonstrating the wealth of artistic talent that has been nurtured here in Glasgow."

Glasgow Times:

Glasgow Times:

A short film by BAFTA Scotland award-winning filmmaker and GSA graduate Callum Rice that documents the making of The Mouse has also been released today, with both films previewed at a special premiere at the Glasgow Film Theatre. 

You can view the digital Christmas card HERE