Paisley wishes are featured in new V&A exhibition
Arty Buddies are reminded that Paisley and its stunning architecture will feature in a new exhibition at the V&A Dundee museum.
It is called What if...?/Scotland and explores the relationship communities have with their built environment.
The project, commissioned by the Scotland + Venice partnership, is the creation of Edinburgh-based 7N architects together with Architecture and Design Scotland, Scotland’s design agency, and a number of local partners.
Initially started in 2019, it paired five people from Paisley with five architects and designers to discuss how they would improve the spaces where they live and what their hopes, wishes and aspirations for the future are.
The designer responded to the wishes of the people by proposing a way to make their hopes a reality – asking What if…?/.
The process was recorded by filmmaker Basharat Khan.
The exhibition of the wishes, alongside the films, were initially prepared for the Scotland + Venice exhibition for the 17th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia in 2020, which is the world’s leading architecture exhibition.
However, with the 2020 exhibition postponed and uncertainty around travel in 2021 due to the on-going Covid-19 pandemic, the organisers were able to adapt the exhibition to premiere at V&A Dundee.
In Paisley, residents Alison Love, Gillian Steel,Johannes Gonani, Dr Valerie Wright and Linzi Clark discussed a number of areas they’d like to see developed.
They want to see buildings and areas that had fallen into disrepair restored and they want to find new ways to allow all the citizens of Paisley the opportunity to gather and take part.
They also discussed the High Street and how it could be revitalised so that future generations could have pride in their town.
Four other communities are involved - Elgin, Wester Hailes in Edinburgh, Annan and Lerwick.
As well as themes individual to the local communities, there were many overarching themes of regeneration of lost and iconic buildings, the issues of closed shops in high streets, community spirit, pride in local areas and how to create a meeting space that’s accessible to everyone.
In addition to the five films, there will be an interactive installation called the Cloud of Dreams, where anyone attending the exhibition can submit their wish for their place.
Entry to the exhibition is free and it runs until November 21.
To book tickets, visit www.vam.ac.uk/ dundee