EK Modernism
C41 digital photographs; film, website
2005-2010
C41 digital photographs; film, website
2005-2010
C-41 prints | 2005-2010
Sylvia's project, EK Modernsim, addressed how new towns like East Kilbride in Scotland were conceived as a one-stop solution for urban rejuvenation in the early 1950s. These centers were driven by modernist concepts in urban development and social planning. Unlike older urban developments, new towns offered defined social spaces where neighbourhoods were gridded to accommodate schools and shopping centres; where industries were clustered on the town' edge estates; and where local road transportation systems were developed strategically around neighbourhoods to enable safer commuter transit.
East Kilbride is an outstanding example of New Town architecture and represents one of the most comprehensive modernist cities in the UK. Located just 12 miles from Glasgow, it has retained the vision of High Modernist architecture since its inception.
Even though Scottish New Town modernist architecture is less than a half century old, only a few key contemporary buildings are surviving in Scotland today, as most of them have been altered, allowed to fall into disrepair or were redeveloped due to new civic regeneration needs. Remarkably East Kilbride has as a New Town has undergone extremely limited redevelopment over the last 60 years and it was only until recent between 2007-2012 that large parcels of land were assigned for re-development, ending the town's Modernist layout.
Sylvia's project, EK Modernism, was designed to result both in the creation of an image archive of this New Modernist Town landscape as well as a conceptual photo series. For a full overview about EK Modernism's development and project legacies see http://www.sylviagborda.com/project-legacies.html
REVIEWS
2022
Trainer, Paul and Ann Fotheringham. “New Town Architecture Better by design - A photographic chronicle of the planners – vision for EK’” EK/75 Saturday Souvenir Supplement in The Herald and Glasgow Times, October 22, 2023 pp. 32- 34.
2020
Strom, Jordan (ed) ‘Shifting Perspectives: Sylvia Grace Borda’ Heritage House Press in conjunction with Surrey Art Gallery Publication, pp 226 ISBN 9781772033298. https://www.surrey.ca/arts-culture/surrey-art-gallery/gallery-publications/exhibition-catalogues/shifting-perspectives
Essays on Borda’s artworks:
Barenscott, Dorothy. ‘Slow Photography’ pp 77-96
Davison, Liane. ‘Every Bus in Surrey, BC’ pp27-29
Nordstrom, Rachel. ‘Artists, Archives, and Exchanges’ pp175-180
Strom, Jordan. ‘Recentering the peripherary: Sylvia Grace Borda and the Chiasmatic Image’
Travis, Rebecca. ‘Sylvia Grace Borda; Two Geographies’ pp7-26
Wells, Liz. ‘Shifting Perspectives’ pp 63-69
2017
Turner, Michael. “Sites of Assembly” in Preview Magazine The Gallery Guide, June 2017
2008-09
Book title: ‘PRAKTIKA, Huntly Aberdeenshire, Socially engaged art practice’
ISBN 978-0-9555253-7-7; Publisher: Deveron Arts, pp 54; Introduction by Rosie Gibson & David Harding
Commissioned by Deveron Arts, Scotland to write about the development and long-term impact of my project, EK Modernism, on social engagement in the arts. This book is an anthology of essays by art practitioners working across Scotland, particularly addressing the question of how artist led research and practice can be applied to community based projects.
2007 Goto. Reiko. “Reflections on Working in Public Art, Practice and Policy Seminar 1: Aesthetics and Ethics of Working in Public” Gray’s School of Art, Aberdeen, Scotland
“Town indulges in a spot of Favouritism”, East Kilbride Newspaper, August 29, 2007
2006
Docherty, Eddie "Roundabouts, concrete, construction: is this a world heritage site?" The Herald, UK 24 October 2006
Paisley, Jonathan. "Artist in with the bricks at modern town.' in Evening Times, 24, October, 2006.
Kasprzak, Michelle. “New Tools for New Towns” EK New Town.com - Net Art news, Rhizome.org (New York) June 2, 2006
https://rhizome.org/editorial/2006/jun/2/new-tools-for-new-towns/
Laurence, Robin. “Borda’s Images restore modernism’s vision” The Georgia Straight Newspaper Vol 40 April 6-13, 2006 p48
https://www.straight.com/article/ek-modernism-new-works-by-sylvia-grace-borda
Burnham, Clint. “Critic’s Picks: Sylvia Grace Borda – EK Modernism” WestCoast Life Section, Vancouver Sun Newspaper, March 30, 2006 p D34.
Whitehead, Terri. “Borda Crossings” Canadian Architect, Vol 51, No. 2, February 2006. pp52-54.
https://www.canadianarchitect.com/borda-crossings/
2005
Craig, Ian. “Artist Resonant, Urban Culture” East Kilbride Newspaper, November 2005.
COLLECTIONS housing EK Modernism prints and/or related archival material include:
UK
National Galleries of Scotland
Photographic Collections, St Andrew’s University, Scotland
CANADA
Morris & Helen Belkin Art Gallery, University of British Columbia
Surrey Art Gallery
West Vancouver Museum and Art Gallery
View all of Sylvia Grace Borda's EK Modernism book project online at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRNnNgcKTEE
East Kilbride is an outstanding example of New Town architecture and represents one of the most comprehensive modernist cities in the UK. Located just 12 miles from Glasgow, it has retained the vision of High Modernist architecture since its inception.
Even though Scottish New Town modernist architecture is less than a half century old, only a few key contemporary buildings are surviving in Scotland today, as most of them have been altered, allowed to fall into disrepair or were redeveloped due to new civic regeneration needs. Remarkably East Kilbride has as a New Town has undergone extremely limited redevelopment over the last 60 years and it was only until recent between 2007-2012 that large parcels of land were assigned for re-development, ending the town's Modernist layout.
Sylvia's project, EK Modernism, was designed to result both in the creation of an image archive of this New Modernist Town landscape as well as a conceptual photo series. For a full overview about EK Modernism's development and project legacies see http://www.sylviagborda.com/project-legacies.html
REVIEWS
2022
Trainer, Paul and Ann Fotheringham. “New Town Architecture Better by design - A photographic chronicle of the planners – vision for EK’” EK/75 Saturday Souvenir Supplement in The Herald and Glasgow Times, October 22, 2023 pp. 32- 34.
2020
Strom, Jordan (ed) ‘Shifting Perspectives: Sylvia Grace Borda’ Heritage House Press in conjunction with Surrey Art Gallery Publication, pp 226 ISBN 9781772033298. https://www.surrey.ca/arts-culture/surrey-art-gallery/gallery-publications/exhibition-catalogues/shifting-perspectives
Essays on Borda’s artworks:
Barenscott, Dorothy. ‘Slow Photography’ pp 77-96
Davison, Liane. ‘Every Bus in Surrey, BC’ pp27-29
Nordstrom, Rachel. ‘Artists, Archives, and Exchanges’ pp175-180
Strom, Jordan. ‘Recentering the peripherary: Sylvia Grace Borda and the Chiasmatic Image’
Travis, Rebecca. ‘Sylvia Grace Borda; Two Geographies’ pp7-26
Wells, Liz. ‘Shifting Perspectives’ pp 63-69
2017
Turner, Michael. “Sites of Assembly” in Preview Magazine The Gallery Guide, June 2017
2008-09
Book title: ‘PRAKTIKA, Huntly Aberdeenshire, Socially engaged art practice’
ISBN 978-0-9555253-7-7; Publisher: Deveron Arts, pp 54; Introduction by Rosie Gibson & David Harding
Commissioned by Deveron Arts, Scotland to write about the development and long-term impact of my project, EK Modernism, on social engagement in the arts. This book is an anthology of essays by art practitioners working across Scotland, particularly addressing the question of how artist led research and practice can be applied to community based projects.
2007 Goto. Reiko. “Reflections on Working in Public Art, Practice and Policy Seminar 1: Aesthetics and Ethics of Working in Public” Gray’s School of Art, Aberdeen, Scotland
“Town indulges in a spot of Favouritism”, East Kilbride Newspaper, August 29, 2007
2006
Docherty, Eddie "Roundabouts, concrete, construction: is this a world heritage site?" The Herald, UK 24 October 2006
Paisley, Jonathan. "Artist in with the bricks at modern town.' in Evening Times, 24, October, 2006.
Kasprzak, Michelle. “New Tools for New Towns” EK New Town.com - Net Art news, Rhizome.org (New York) June 2, 2006
https://rhizome.org/editorial/2006/jun/2/new-tools-for-new-towns/
Laurence, Robin. “Borda’s Images restore modernism’s vision” The Georgia Straight Newspaper Vol 40 April 6-13, 2006 p48
https://www.straight.com/article/ek-modernism-new-works-by-sylvia-grace-borda
Burnham, Clint. “Critic’s Picks: Sylvia Grace Borda – EK Modernism” WestCoast Life Section, Vancouver Sun Newspaper, March 30, 2006 p D34.
Whitehead, Terri. “Borda Crossings” Canadian Architect, Vol 51, No. 2, February 2006. pp52-54.
https://www.canadianarchitect.com/borda-crossings/
2005
Craig, Ian. “Artist Resonant, Urban Culture” East Kilbride Newspaper, November 2005.
COLLECTIONS housing EK Modernism prints and/or related archival material include:
UK
National Galleries of Scotland
Photographic Collections, St Andrew’s University, Scotland
CANADA
Morris & Helen Belkin Art Gallery, University of British Columbia
Surrey Art Gallery
West Vancouver Museum and Art Gallery
View all of Sylvia Grace Borda's EK Modernism book project online at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRNnNgcKTEE