memory. language, art. wittgenstein. books. ceramics.

all sorts of thinkings on memory, language, art, wittgenstein, books, etc, while I am getting on with my MA

Monday 21 June 2010

Stephen Walter maps the land







Stephen Walter had one of his maps at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. Every time I see his work (and I happen to come across his work a lot) I think "Oh, it's him again!" This is how a grew to like him.



While geographically accurate, it replaces the austere, regimented symbolism of an Ordnance Survey map with a rich semiotic cartography, tracing Walter's personal pre-occupations as well as historical references, landmarks, and scattered throughout with the symbols and logos that infest the urban landscape.


I picked up a book of his at the AAF in autumn 2009. I wish it had all the map prints on bible paper folding out of pages, like proper maps. So I could examine every detail of them.

Guardian has got this interview about how he works.