Working as a collaboration we focused on a site based project after a trip to Berlin.  We explored the idea of becoming lost which led us to researching into cartography as most of our experience of Berlin was getting lost and we wanted to highlight the importance of maps. There were a lot of inspiration from the book, ‘The Map as Art: Contemporary Artists Explore Cartography’ by Katharine Harmon. I was really inspired by Susan Stockwell’s London Subway (2007). Stockwell uses cotton and stitches the tube lines into calligraphy rice paper. As a group, we were inspired by Peter Dykuis’ You Are Here (2005) his work inspired our group to create a similar layout using square patterns.

 

For our piece we decided to use the Berlin tram maps and each of us took 3 sections of the map. With these 3 sections as long as we had the tram lines on them we could create our own designs and influences on them. For my own canvases I wanted to keep the continuity. I decided to use image transfer with my canvases as I was heavily influenced by the streets of Berlin, as there are multiple layers of posters throughout the streets. I used a variety of images, some of my own and secondary sourced. I wanted to show what was offered in the area. I used ‘Mod Podge’ for my image transfer as it creates a dull look on the canvases but it juxtaposed with the stitches making the work stand out.

 

The presentation of the collaboration work is that the 15 canvases have been placed on the floor in the incorrect order to emphases the importance of maps and to highlight how easy it is to get lost.