Students and staff from UWTSD’s Swansea College of Art have contributed to the latest exhibition showcasing at the Elysium Art Gallery, Swansea, ‘Without Borders’.
‘Without Borders’ is an evolving digital project and physical exhibition, aimed at bringing together 22 communities and nearly 300 artists from around the world.
The exhibition seeks to remove barriers, create alliances, and connect with neighbours. It aims to bring creative people together, to collaborate in an international touring exhibition of works on paper – a collection of artists’ pages.
After exhibiting at Swansea, ‘Without Borders’ will travel to Japan, Norway, USA, Venice, Canada, and back to Wales. The project will also be globally accessible via an e-catalogue.
At the end of the tour, the artworks will permanently be bound together to create one unique artist book, to be housed in a special collection’s library which will be announced at a later date.
The term Border describes literal or invisible lines: edges that separate and divide, that contain and limit. Without Borders is particularly evocative and redolent in these current times. Ever-quickening, reactive politics results in some borders hardening, whilst others dissolve. The divide between rich and poor appears to be widening. Physical, geographical, and social borders, together with the fragile, permeable border between life and death have also been highlighted by the recent pandemic.
Jonathan Powell from the Elysium Art Gallery said: “As a former student of Swansea College of Art, I was very keen to get them involved in some way. Despite the difficulties with all the lockdowns and disruptions the students were magnificent and contributed a great body of work.”
Katherine Clewett, Programme Director of the Cert HE Art and Design Foundation course at Swansea College of Art said: “The exhibition title ‘Without Borders’ upholds ideas and perspectives concerning current socio-political boundaries. This project is an opportunity for students and staff to reflect on constricted connections, and to seek collective responses.
“Swansea College of Art contributors comprises students and staff from Foundation, Degree and MA courses, exhibiting in a variety of mediums including drawing, painting, photography and stitch.
“We are thankful to Elysium Art Gallery for inviting us to contribute to this timely exhibition.”
The exhibition continues at Elysium Art Gallery until Saturday, August 28th.
