Trail: Borders by Flynn McDonnell

Examining their economic, social and political implications, my trail brings together various exhibitions to explore how modern-day borders, in all their various forms, have come to shape how we live our lives.

It can heavily be argued that borders, in all their various forms, have come to shape how we live our lives. To many, borders have become synonymous with migration; used as a distinction to divide ‘us’ from ‘them’. With the rising presence of far-right ideologies and calls for tighter immigration controls increasing, borders have become a catalyst to both define our national identities and gain power for populist politicians all across Europe. In various ways, each of these exhibitions explore how borders, whether they be economical, geographical or political, have impacted different parts of our lives; through acts of conflict, inequality, identity and ideology.

From the boundaries of a surrounding country, to the gentrified streets of our cities. Borders are continuously employed to benefit the rich and powerful, while simultaneously being used to marginalise and scapegoat the lives of others. As we grow accustomed to a COVID-19 world, with the UK looming closer towards an ever-more likely no-deal Brexit and in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement, there is perhaps no greater time to acknowledge and question both the history and future of our borders, for better or for worse.

Flynn McDonnell is a Photo Fringe 2020 Trainee Curator. Read more here.

image: Things are improving, Pablo Paillol, from the exhibition Source Materials