Art Maps and Cities: Contemporary Artists Explore Urban Spaces

This book explores how contemporary artists are using mapping to explore urban spaces, challenging traditional notions of maps as scientific artefacts. It examines a century-old history of art maps and investigates the potential of art maps to construct personal narratives, contestation, embodiment, and play in the city context. Through semi-structured interviews with visual artists, it explores cartographic processes and methods in visual art practices in the twenty-first century, incorporating digital technologies and critical thinking.

Format: Hardback
Length: 209 pages
Publication date: 27 November 2022
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

This captivating book delves into an innovative exploration of how contemporary artists are harnessing the power of mapping to engage with urban spaces. Despite the rich tradition of city representations in maps throughout history, there has been limited research dedicated to examining how artists actively intervene in the realm of urban cartography. The research embarks on a journey through a century-old history of art maps, drawing upon academic debates that challenge traditional notions of maps as mere scientific artifacts derived from precise measurement and surveying. It delves into the potential of art maps to construct personal narratives, fostering contestation, embodiment, and play, within the dynamic context of cities shaped by urban planning, design, political ideologies, and socio-economic forces.

Adopting an exploratory and interpretative research approach, this book guides the reader on a journey of discovery, unveiling what artistic practices can contribute to a more creative and inquisitive understanding of cities. Through a series of semi-structured interviews with visual artists, the book uncovers their perspectives on apprehending, processing, and re-creating urban spaces within their artworks. It also delves into the cartographic processes and methods employed in visual art practices in the twenty-first century, which increasingly incorporate digital technologies and critical thinking.

By examining the confluence of theories from diverse domains, this book offers a holistic perspective on the role of art in shaping our perception and interpretation of urban environments. It serves as a valuable resource for artists, urban planners, policymakers, and anyone interested in the intersection of art, geography, and society. Through its engaging narrative and insightful analysis, this book empowers readers to reimagine the potential of mapping as a tool for artistic expression, urban exploration, and social change.

Weight: 416g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031133053
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022