10 November 2023 — Writing

Atlantic Assemblages

A photograph of some birch trees in ceramic pots, which are all displayed in front of a turquois blue wall.
Birch trees of Ravenscraig – work on display in the Ravenscraig section of A Fragile Correspondence. Photo by Daniele Sambo.

After an Open Call asking artists and writers for a creative promotional response to the themes of A Fragile Correspondence, Harvey Dimond was commissioned to write the below creative response. This three-part text considers how colonialism has shaped the natural ecologies of Scotland, South Africa and Barbados, and considers their historic and contemporary resonances from a diasporic perspective. Read more

27 October 2023 — Writing

Abundant Nectar

A close-up photograph of artwork in the exhibition that is made out of golden yellow material and thread.
A close-up of the work by Raghnaid Sandilands in the Loch Ness section of A Fragile Correspondence. Photo by Alyesha Choudhury.

After an Open Call asking artists and writers for a creative promotional response to the themes of A Fragile Correspondence, Harper Walton was commissioned to write the below poem, which explores the geographically distinct areas of Highland, Island and Lowland as queer spaces through a transgender and non-binary lens. Read more

25 October 2023 — Writing

Found in Translation: Architecture, Land, Landscape, Language

A group of people sit and listen to a woman reading from a sheet of paper.
Photo credit: Robb Mcrae.

The Scotland + Venice | Found in Translation: Architecture, Land, Landscape, Language event on 14 October brought together presentations from the Austrian Pavilion, Orizzontale (from Rome, exhibiting within the Arsenale), Dualchas, A Fragile Correspondence, the Lithuanian Pavilion and Scottish author Cal Flyn. Read more

19 October 2023 — Writing

Island Time

A photograph of the work in display in the Orkney section of A Fragile Correspondence.
A Fragile Correspondence, work on display in the Orkney Section. Photo: Daniele Sambo

The frequency of an island sounds different from that of the mainland; and in conversation with the rhythms of the sky and sea, Orcadians live in conjunction with the water that they are surrounded by and in response to its temperament - floods, rain, and storms. Read more

13 October 2023 — Writing

Erasure of contemporary landscapes

A close up photo of a white architectural model of what Ravenscraig could look like in the future, featuring model trees and people.
Model (detail) of a potential future for Ravenscraig site. Photo by Daniele Sambo.

In response to A Fragile Correspondence, journalist Diyora Shadijanova visits the site of Ravenscraig and considers its past, present and potential future.   Wikipedia describes Ravenscraig as a "village" and a "new town", but when I travel there one sunny afternoon, it's all roads and roundabouts breaking vast areas of greenery fenced off for future construction. Read more

13 October 2023 — Writing

Land ownership, cultural identity, and sustainability

A photograph of a section of an exhibition, featuring boards of text and images and a screen showing videos of the Loch Ness landscape.
A Fragile Correspondence, display in Loch Ness section. Photo: Daniele Sambo

In response to A Fragile Correspondence, Eilidh Akilade explores land ownership - imagined, formal, and otherwise. Centring around the Isle of Lewis, the piece looks to the island’s history, familial encounters with the natural landscape, and the Gaelic language. Read more

27 September 2023 — Writing

PDP Reflections: Maxwell Wilson

Maxwell Wilson formed part of the Professional Development Programme, during the summer. From Lhanbryde, Moray, he was a Stage 6 student at the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture in Aberdeen, graduating in July. Read more

10 July 2023 — Writing

Biennale Follows New Path

Photograph of the exhibition with a blurry person walking through the space
A Fragile Correspondence – Work on display in Loch Ness section – photo by Daniele Sambo

LET’S START with a word: opportunity. Scotland’s chance to participate in the Venice Architecture Biennale, the biggest and most prestigious festival of architecture in the world. In the canal-side venue used by the Scotland + Venice Partnership since 2019, close to the Biennale’s main spaces, the show is ideally placed to catch visitors from all over the world. Read more

24 May 2022 — Writing

What if…?/Dundee – what happened next?

A group of people standing in a square in front of a low rise building
Citizens of Dundee working with Architects for What if…?/Scotland (Image by Lydia Smith)

Dundee did not appear on the original list of five geographical targets for the ‘What If…?/Scotland’ project. However, when the decision was taken to exhibit the results at the V&A Dundee (instead of the Venice Architecture Biennale, which had been the original, pre-covid, plan), the city was added as a sixth location. Read more

21 March 2022 — Writing

What if…?/Paisley – What happened next?

A group of 11 people stand in a line in front of a concrete building. The person on the left is in a wheelchair
The group of citizens, designers and architects who worked together in Paisley to explore how we will live today as part of as part of What if…?/Scotland. Image Courtesy of 7N

When the ‘What If…’ project arrived in Paisley, many of the conversations between citizens and architects focussed on the theme of gathering. “It’s very much in the DNA of the place to assemble,” says Stuart McMillan, Regeneration and Place Manager, Economy and Development, with Renfrewshire Council. Read more