The Way of It: We must show them the way.

Most, if not every exhibition or gallery leaflet has a map describing how to get to the exhibition or gallery, this made me think of the importance of maps and cartography - something that I am unbelievably in love with - and how they are key to exhibition, to spreading the word, of showing people where the art is. This, I believe is an important thing to think about when curating, we have to tell people that there is a showing, and if they don't know where, we show them with a map. The literature (i.e. leaflets, booklets and posters) that we use to promote exhibitions and hand to people who find their way are just as important as the work that is exhibited itself.

“Maps codify the miracle of existence.”

"A Map. Is a representation on paper - A picture - You understand picture? - A paper picture - showing, representing this country - Yes? Showing your country in miniature - A scaled drawing on paper of - of - of …" The concept of 'Mapping' is an interesting one, do maps have to be accurate representations of reality? Or can they be poetic, illustrative and delicate recreations of what we see on journeys in reality and also imaginings of possible places, as demonstrated in 'Maps'. In fact, "How can reality be best represented? Once cartography is liberated from its objective rigidity, once maps unleash their subjective potential, doesn’t it offer a spectacle that reassembles much more the real world out there?"

One of the best books on fantastical maps I own (I own a few) Cover from Maps, Drawn (lovingly) by Nigel Peake.

Tim Abrahams considers the parameters that the term Mapping can describe in direct response to Peakes collection. He does so in a way that is broad in discussion, his statements are attested by his examples of the various types of Mapping, not all obvious; Ordnance Survey Maps, Brian Friel's superb play 'Translations', JRR Tolkein's 'The Lord of the Rings' and an "unlikely comparison to Tolkein's masterpiece of faux folklore", Will Self's 'The Book of Dave' that also opens with a map, created by Martin Rowson, a cartoonist. The text is informative and interesting, it works perfectly as a companion to Peake's book, giving an insight into Peake's map-addled mind through description, humour - in the same vein of Peake's playful style - and genuine fact. What is particularly interesting, though a strange thought to have, is the location of the text in regards to the book (the centre), it is as if Abrahams and Peake particularly knew that by the time a peruser would arrive at the mid-point they would need some explanation, or want to know about the fantastical world of Mapping and Cartography. Especially, the many ways memories of visits, accurate geography and imagined landscapes can be represented through maps. After reading 'Maps' by Tim Abrahams the reader is free to presume their pondering with a more informed mind and a greater enthusiasm as a result.