
CUMBERNAULD, G68
Cumbernauld G68 is an investigation into Scottish youth culture through the lense of my own nostalgia and deep rooted patriotism. The work is autobiographical, using fond memories of a simple, working class childhood in suburban glasgow as a catalyst to both proudly honour the forgotten town where I grew up and to depict the bleak reality of state disregard for working class experience under the current social class system. I used this piece to take pride in the artistic perspective my working classness has given me, emphasizing that any and all artistic and aesthetic knowledge should be valued equally. My aim when creating the installation was to challenge the arts ecologies classist desire to only consume 'high art' by purposely contextualising the work within lad culture, ned mentality, and the crackling energy of Scottish youth. My ethos around the work was that it is made by and for working class people. I worked with poet and friend Mitchell Robertson to create the poem the town ae tomorrow, describing our crumbling, derelict town from the proud eyes of the people within it. This sat in conjunction with dance film featuring Scottish dance artist Donna Smith. created by Rosenn Dendyperformed by Donna Smithexhibited at the Laban Building

CUMBERNAULD, G68
LABAN THEATRE MAY 2021





the town ae tomorrow feels like yesterday,
the town centres lifeless n mankyMn rotten wae decay
whit wis once a place ae celebratory glee
is now riddled wae neglect
n bruised along the knee,
I mean,
the swimming pools tiles ir older than me
n the man aht cuts ma hair
that’s lived here since he wis wee
says; “nuttins changed in fifty year,
boys still fight n bottle in the name ae the CYT
bins go up in flames fur everybody tae see”