On the Map
19 January - 15 June 2008Millennium Galleries Introduction On the Map uses craft and design to examine the notion of mapping. It explores what a map is, what can be mapped and how maps can be used and manipulated. Maps are often extremely important symbolic documents. Historically two things drove the process of geographical mapping forward: war and trade. The resulting maps tell us a great deal about the relationships and conflicts between borders and regions. Today geographic maps are also appreciated as beautiful objects. Artists have increasingly incorporated maps as a media within their work, like they would a piece of textile or precious metal. They also act as primary sources of inspiration for a wide range of art, craft and graphic design. All maps and mapping systems are graphic tools that have been invented and designed. Indeed graphic designers use the process of mapping to visualise information. The process of mapping and the type of information that can be mapped is extremely wide-ranging. Go to the map > |