A concealed cartography

My research seeks to establish a greater understanding of how social space is producedwith regard to public art. It explores the idea that public space is constantly produced andreproduced. Situated in the midst of our everyday experience public art would seem tohave the potential to become a catalyst for public debate, dialogue and a medium for thesharing of ideas. However, there seems to be a disconnection between the permanentart in our cities and the social rhythms of its inhabitants. I sought to address this problemdeveloping public artwork that creates a fissure in the everyday experience. I began toexplore recent theories in contemporary urban geography and in particular the theories ofHenri Lefebvre and Richard Sennett.The idea of the journey underpins the work in A Concealed Cartography, a title thatreveals my intent, which is to reveal the underlying rhythms of social space. Withinmy work I also challenge the abstraction and subsequent reduction of space throughcartography by creating maps of the ‘lived’ environment and personal experience.My research revealed that the theoretical notion of space was contested territory and thatwas a general shift towards a de-fixing of the idea of space tha t reflected similar ideas incontemporary public art.I consider this research to add to the dialogue of public art. It is hoped that it will add awider perspective on the subject by highlighting the spatial theory of contemporary urbangeography and contribute to a public art that seeks to become interwoven into the fabricof social rhythms rather than anchored in the architecture of our urban environment.