Maps are beautiful and misleading abstractions of the landscape that looks incomparably different through the viewfinder when I am physically standing in it. → This baffles me, as most of today's maps are constructed using photographic images or the data stored in maps is visualized as photographs. The word ‹map› on Wikipedia, surprised to find something that closely matches my interpretation of landscape photography. → Starting with my diploma project back in 2003, maps have taken on a key role in the formulation of project concepts until this day. I will be talking about these ideas behind my work, illustrated through three projects: Transit (2002–2003), Green Area (2004–2005) and a recent work realized in Japan, Bonsai Land (2010). What these all have in common is that they explain an abstract idea by walking a path through the landscape. These projects were planned based on preconceptions and visual constellations I discovered studying maps of the area. Although the final work may be detached from the original line of thought, still the work itself is better understood if placed back into the original context of the map.
00:00
2014