Charting Space: The Cartographies of Conceptual Art

This book explores the mapping practices of conceptual artists in the late 1960s, which included more expanded forms of spatial representation. It presents twelve in-depth case studies that address artists' engagement with space and how it was influenced by larger historical, social, and cultural contexts. The contributors also illustrate how artists' cartographies served as critical sites for formulating their politics and graphing new, heterogeneous spaces.

Format: Hardback
Length: 296 pages
Publication date: 10 October 2023
Publisher: Manchester University Press

By the late 1960s, cartographic formats and spatial information had become an integral part of numerous conceptual artworks. This comprehensive volume delves into the diverse practices of conceptual mapping, encompassing more elaborate forms of spatial representation. The book presents twelve in-depth case studies that explore artists' engagement with spatial concepts at a pivotal juncture when space was gaining renewed importance in art, theory, and culture. Through these chapters, a clear "spatial turn" is unveiled, tracing its trajectory from the postwar era to the contemporary period, while also shedding light on the broader historical, social, and cultural contexts that shaped it.

Furthermore, the contributors to this book illustrate how artists' cartographies functioned as critical platforms for articulating their politics, challenging established systems, and charting new, heterogeneous spaces. By examining these case studies, readers gain a deeper understanding of conceptualisms' relationship to the world and its impact on shaping artistic practices and the broader cultural landscape.

Weight: 776g
Dimension: 161 x 241 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526159953