Delving into Art Cartography and Its Role in the Formation of Global Modernity - Cultural Geographies

Mapping Beyond Measure: Art, Cartography, and the Space of Global Modernity (Cultural Geographies + Rewriting the Earth)

by Declan Dunne

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	14753 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	318 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

Abstract

Art cartography, the practice of creating maps as artistic expressions, has played a significant role in shaping cultural geographies and the perception of the world. This article examines the intricate relationship between art cartography and the emergence of global modernity, exploring how maps have been used to construct, legitimize, and challenge geopolitical power structures.

Maps have long been recognized as powerful tools for representing and understanding the world. Beyond their practical function as navigational aids, maps have also served as potent cultural artifacts, reflecting the values, beliefs, and aspirations of the societies that produced them. Art cartography, in particular, has emerged as a multifaceted practice that transcends the boundaries of traditional mapmaking, offering unique insights into the cultural and political landscapes of global modernity.

Art Cartography and the Rise of Global Modernity

The emergence of global modernity, characterized by the interconnectedness and interdependence of people and places across vast distances, was closely intertwined with the development of art cartography. As European powers expanded their empires, maps became indispensable tools for claiming and controlling territories. Art cartographers played a crucial role in legitimizing these claims by creating visually persuasive representations of the world that reinforced the superiority of European perspectives.

Maps such as Gerardus Mercator's influential 1569 world map, with its Eurocentric projection, became powerful instruments for shaping global imaginaries. By placing Europe at the center and exaggerating its size relative to other continents, these maps perpetuated a distorted view of the world that justified European dominance.

Mapping the Cultural Landscape

In addition to their geopolitical significance, art cartography has also played a vital role in shaping cultural landscapes. Maps have been used to represent and define cultural boundaries, to celebrate cultural heritage, and to promote cultural identity. For instance, indigenous maps created by Native American communities have served as both navigational tools and expressions of cultural knowledge and connection to the land.

Contemporary art cartography often challenges conventional representations of space and place, inviting viewers to critically engage with cultural narratives and power structures. Artists such as Simon Pope and Richard Long have created maps that explore the relationship between personal experience and the landscape, questioning the objectivity and authority of traditional cartography.

Postcolonial Art Cartography and Decolonization

In the postcolonial era, art cartography has emerged as a powerful tool for decolonization. Artists from formerly colonized regions have used maps to reclaim their own histories, challenge dominant narratives, and demand recognition for marginalized voices. Postcolonial art cartography often employs deconstructive techniques, exposing the biases and inaccuracies embedded in Eurocentric maps and offering alternative perspectives on global spaces.

For example, the work of contemporary Ghanaian artist Ibrahim Mahama involves creating large-scale installations using jute sacks that have been used to transport cocoa beans, a major cash crop in Ghana during the colonial period. By transforming these humble materials into powerful artistic expressions, Mahama invites viewers to reflect on the complexities of globalization, trade, and postcolonial power dynamics.

Art Cartography and Critical Cartography

Art cartography has also been closely aligned with the development of critical cartography, an academic discipline that examines the power relations embedded in mapmaking and challenges the notion of objective cartography. Critical cartographers argue that maps are inherently political and reflect the interests of those who produce them.

By employing artistic and experimental approaches, art cartographers have contributed to the development of critical cartographic practices. They have created maps that highlight inequalities, expose environmental degradation, and question the legitimacy of geopolitical boundaries.

Art cartography is a dynamic and multifaceted practice that has played a significant role in shaping cultural geographies and the space of global modernity. From the legitimization of colonial empires to the deconstruction of postcolonial power structures, maps have been used to construct, challenge, and reimagine the world around us.

As technology continues to advance and global interconnectedness intensifies, art cartography will undoubtedly continue to evolve. By offering alternative perspectives, challenging conventional representations, and engaging with critical cartographic practices, art cartographers will continue to contribute to our understanding of the complex interplay between space, power, and culture in the globalized world.

References

• Harley, J. B. (2001). The new nature of maps: Essays in the history of cartography. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.
• Kitchin, R., & Dodge, M. (2011). Code/space: Software and everyday life. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
• Laird, M. (2006). Mapping our world: Terra incognita to GPS. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
• Monmonier, M. (1996). How to lie with maps. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
• Woodward, D. (2007). The map as art: Contemporary artists explore cartography. New York: Princeton Architectural Press.

Image Credits

• Gerardus Mercator's 1569 world map by Gerardus Mercator - Public Domain
• Simon Pope - Used with permission
• Richard Long - Used with permission
• Ibrahim Mahama - Used with permission

Mapping Beyond Measure: Art, Cartography, and the Space of Global Modernity (Cultural Geographies + Rewriting the Earth)

by Declan Dunne

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	14753 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	318 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE