In relation to our discussion about the use of photography and the use of symbols in how to depict Africa as a continent, I thought this was an interesting piece of content to bring to light. What happens when one individual is used to depict a geographical area?

Sam

Follow

“How we understand territories and nation-states—more importantly how we imagine them—depend on how we map them.”

http://www.thesitemagazine.com/read/the-first-iteration

Follow

On Friday we spoke briefly about the work of writer/photographer/performance artist Sophie Calle. One of her projects that I have always connected with was her ‘Prenez soin de vous’  project, translation ‘Take Care of Yourself’.  The introduction to the project is as follows:

I received an email telling me it was over.
I didn’t know how to respond.
It was almost as if it hadn’t been meant for me.
It ended with the words, “Take care of yourself.”
And so I did.
I asked 107 women (including two made from wood and one with feathers),
chosen for their profession or skills, to interpret this letter.
To analyze it, comment on it, dance it, sing it.
Dissect it. Exhaust it. Understand it for me.
Answer for me.
It was a way of taking the time to break up.
A way of taking care of myself.

This project has been exhibited in many different galleries and was also installed at the Venice Biennale in 2007. It’s longest lasting form is a book. In the context of our mapping course, it could be said that this project interprets grief and seeks to map out an understanding or a way forward. Sadly it is not a project that explains itself well with a google search. If anyone is interested in seeing the book I would be happy to bring in my English translation of it on Monday. Let me know.

Here is a link to the original press release:
<https://www.paulacoopergallery.com/exhibitions/sophie-calle-take-care-of-yourself/press-release>

Follow