A Beautiful Living Thing is the title of a series of inter-related films made by Ross Birrell in the wake of a devastating fire in the Mackintosh building of The Glasgow School of Art, 23 May 2014. The first two films in the series – themed around composition and improvisation - were exhibited and screened as part of documenta 14 in Athens and Kassel, 2017. A multi-channel installation film featuring improvisational dancer Tom Pritchard is in post-production. A final film based upon a choral performance will be made to coincide with the completed restoration of the Mackintosh building.

‘Let every artist strive to make his flower a beautiful living thing, something that will convince the world that there may be, there are, things more precious more beautiful - more lasting than life itself.’ C R Mackintosh "Seemliness" (Glasgow, 1902)

On 23 May 2014 the Charles Rennie Mackintosh building of The Glasgow School of Art suffered a devastating accidental fire. Due to the actions of the Scottish Fire & Rescue Services the main building structure survived. Regrettably, however, the world-renowned Mackintosh Library was lost. Taking its title from Mackintosh’s own description of a work of art, Ross Birrell’s film A Beautiful Living Thing – shot in late December 2014 and early January 2015 - documents the destruction of the library and the fire-damaged building and features a composition for solo violin by Birrell performed inside the ruined library by Bill Chandler (RSNO) A Beautiful Living Thing was devised and directed by Ross Birrell, filmed in collaboration with Hugh Watt, and produced by Jo Crotch.

A Beautiful Living Thing was exhibited in the Gennadius Library, Athens, documenta 14, 2017.