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Start for freeThe Birth of a Living Map
The journey of creating an intricate map began innocuously as a mere doodle. Initially composed of simple rectangles and meticulous cross-hatching, the artist's casual sketches gradually expanded. A river meandered through, followed by railroad stations, breathing life and complexity to the rudimentary shapes. As the paper boundaries were exceeded, additional sheets were taped together, marking a pivotal moment where the map began to take on a life of its own.
From Sketches to Sustenance
As the cityscape sprawled across this growing canvas, practical considerations took hold—the inhabitants needed sustenance. This led to the integration of farmlands, ensuring that the urban expansion was balanced with rural elements. The artist's daily routine is a testament to their dedication; starting early in their basement studio, they remix paints representing various altitudes from light blues and greens to darker hues and vibrant reds and pinks.
A Guided Evolution Through Cards
A unique aspect of this artistic process is guided by a deck of cards. Each card drawn dictates specific actions—like scanning certain layers or altering the sequence in which they are viewed—thus influencing how the map evolves over time. This method introduces an element of randomness and fate, reflecting real-world unpredictability.
Adding Infrastructure Based on Need
The development doesn't stop at natural landscapes; it extends to constructing vital infrastructure based on the population needs assessed via a meticulously maintained spreadsheet. Airports, universities, high courts, cemeteries, commercial blocks, high-speed monorail stations, and freeway interchanges are strategically added.
Breaking Conventional Boundaries
In the 1980s, there was a significant shift in artistic direction. No longer content with purely representational art, the creator began incorporating abstract elements like cutouts from magazines—arms and legs that resembled sand dunes—to disrupt traditional landscapes with something starkly different.
The Void's Creep and Defense Mechanisms
One intriguing feature is 'the void,' an ever-expanding white space that erases features from previous generations. Over time this void grows larger but is combated by structures like 'void defense walls' built around significant areas like Ukranian—the largest city on the map—to protect them from being consumed.
Observing Fate Unfold
The artist steps back as both creator and observer in this dynamic interplay between creation and decay. They watch as cities either succumb to or withstand 'the void,' intrigued by how fate plays out in this miniature world they've crafted.
The deck of cards not only guides physical changes but also imbues spiritual significance for the artist—a non-religious individual who sees profound messages within these random assortments.
The map continues evolving under careful hands that paint new realities while simultaneously stepping back in awe at their unfolding creation—a cycle expected to continue for another two decades at least.
Article created from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6IzAVcauAs
