Maps and Journeys- Further Idea Research

After my tutorial with Kathleen, I took out the book she recommended as the idea I presented to her was related to the similarities between the human body, and the man made structures that exist in the modern world. (For example roads are mapped out much like capillary networks). In the book titled 'The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction' by Walter Benjamin, he discusses the value of art as technology has progressed throughout time. He makes an interesting argument which highlights how original artworks may have lost some of their value due to the ease of replication and emulation. At first I was somewhat skeptical about this idea, however the more I thought of current trends and technologies and how they are affecting photography and film as large parts of the creative industry, I realised that this was very much a current issue.

In relation to my idea, I began to realise that growing urban areas are due to new technologies that have come about in the same way as they have changed the creative industry, by being able to copy or emulate an earlier model. However, this does not affect my belief that modern processes are somewhat based on actions in the body. Keeping with the example of road networks (as this is the most strong example) from early Roman roads which were very straights, over time humans began to try and find quicker and easier ways of reaching their destination. Looking at modern road networks produces some interesting visual comparisons with that of capillary networks in the body:

However, this is not exclusive to humans alone. Capillary networks have been compared to bare tree branches before, and they appear on leaves as well.

I wanted to see if other artwork relating to this had been done before, so I researched for artists that have cut up maps into shapes to see if I could find a similar comparison, and I found an artist called Shannon Rankin. Her works are mainly installation and all use maps to compare biological processes and to find patterns in nature. The one I found the most interesting was a series she entitled 'Anatomy' which can be found here. The series was doing exactly what I described, and using maps to make images of biological things such as the heart. About her work she said:

‘Maps depicting mountain ranges, roads, lakes and rivers resemble internal biological features, reproductive anatomy, skeletal structures and networks of the human body. Symbols of cities become acupuncture points, and meridian lines, like rivers, represent an internal system of communication and transport’.

I have to say that I completely agree with her on this view of the world, however in my project I would like to take a different approach in how I demonstrate this idea.