Interrogations of a Camera
Photogram by X-RAY
2011 - present
Photogram by X-RAY
2011 - present
Interrogations of a Camera series explores the constructions of well known and obscure analog cameras as captured by X-RAY. The resulting images appear similar to photograms or blueprints revealing all the camera's internal workings; in the this ways the aesthetic language and content are reminiscent of both Rodchenko's Russian Constructivist and Man Ray's industrial material photogram studies.
By interrogating what a camera is by examining its inner surfaces the viewer is left to question how narrative can be dawn from physical and abstract forms. By Adopting X_RAY technologies the artist offers audiences a unique perspective from which to examine camera construction, whilst also challenging viewers to accept the work as art or not.
Concepts of cause and effect are equally part of the project's narrative. Documenting cameras though intensive X-ray radiation, in order to 'expose' construction, both reveals their inner beauty but temporarily interferes with the camera's defined function of exposing a subject to film. Thus, the camera as a functional object becomes iconic and ironic, since they are now the 'focus' of the imaging process, and simultaneously the subject and the artifact of the output.
By interrogating what a camera is by examining its inner surfaces the viewer is left to question how narrative can be dawn from physical and abstract forms. By Adopting X_RAY technologies the artist offers audiences a unique perspective from which to examine camera construction, whilst also challenging viewers to accept the work as art or not.
Concepts of cause and effect are equally part of the project's narrative. Documenting cameras though intensive X-ray radiation, in order to 'expose' construction, both reveals their inner beauty but temporarily interferes with the camera's defined function of exposing a subject to film. Thus, the camera as a functional object becomes iconic and ironic, since they are now the 'focus' of the imaging process, and simultaneously the subject and the artifact of the output.
Project reviews
2020
Barenscott, Dorothy. ‘Slow Photography’ pp 77-96 in ‘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
2018
Borda, Sylvia Grace. “Locating the Camera” in Photographies, Taylor and Francis Publishers, London, UK vol 11, 2018 ISSN: 1754-0771
2016
Travis, Rebecca. "The only thing that’s changed is everything" feature article in the 2016 Summer edition of Scottish Society for the History of Photography https://web.archive.org/web/20180902212635/http://sshop.org.uk/project/rebecca-travis/
2014
Travis, Rebecca. “Sylvia Grace Borda: Camera Histories” in Reviews: Photomonitor, UK. January 27, 2014
https://photomonitor.co.uk/exhibition/sylvia-grace-borda-camera-histories/
“Art in Scotland TV channel feature: Sylvia Grace Borda Camera Histories – Artist interview” produced by Summerhall TV, Dec 29, 2013 http://www.artinscotland.tv/2013/sylvia-grace-borda-camera-histories/
Artist video interview (December 5, 2013) with Christiane Monarchi, editor of PhotoMonitor Magazine about 'Cameras and Watercolour sunset' series and other works presented in the exhibition 'Camera Histories' presented at Street Level Photoworks Gallery, Glasgow, Scotland (November 23, 2013 - February 2, 2014).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jo7lxuQ-KU
Artist interview “Sylvia Grace Borda explaining 'Interrogations of a Camera” A&D Gallery & Pitch page productions, London
December 2012
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TQHQwJV_08
2020
Barenscott, Dorothy. ‘Slow Photography’ pp 77-96 in ‘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
2018
Borda, Sylvia Grace. “Locating the Camera” in Photographies, Taylor and Francis Publishers, London, UK vol 11, 2018 ISSN: 1754-0771
2016
Travis, Rebecca. "The only thing that’s changed is everything" feature article in the 2016 Summer edition of Scottish Society for the History of Photography https://web.archive.org/web/20180902212635/http://sshop.org.uk/project/rebecca-travis/
2014
Travis, Rebecca. “Sylvia Grace Borda: Camera Histories” in Reviews: Photomonitor, UK. January 27, 2014
https://photomonitor.co.uk/exhibition/sylvia-grace-borda-camera-histories/
“Art in Scotland TV channel feature: Sylvia Grace Borda Camera Histories – Artist interview” produced by Summerhall TV, Dec 29, 2013 http://www.artinscotland.tv/2013/sylvia-grace-borda-camera-histories/
Artist video interview (December 5, 2013) with Christiane Monarchi, editor of PhotoMonitor Magazine about 'Cameras and Watercolour sunset' series and other works presented in the exhibition 'Camera Histories' presented at Street Level Photoworks Gallery, Glasgow, Scotland (November 23, 2013 - February 2, 2014).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jo7lxuQ-KU
Artist interview “Sylvia Grace Borda explaining 'Interrogations of a Camera” A&D Gallery & Pitch page productions, London
December 2012
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TQHQwJV_08