ICE ICE BABY

I once heard a theory about the naming of Iceland (that may or may not be true) that the people who lived on the island didn't want to be invaded by marauding vikings so they perpetuated a rumour that their nice arable island was in fact nothing but ice - so wouldn't you rather attack Greenland? Obviously this was long before the advent of the Internet and especially this enticing map which illustrates the country's capital Reykjavik in such minute detail that it even makes me want to invade - although perhaps just as an amicable tourist.

ATLAS SHRUGGED

Every day since 1963 that the sun has risen in our world, it has set on a new square of map awesomeness in Jerry Gretzinger's. In what started as a simple topographical doodle, a full-blown map universe evolved complete with its own set of complex cartographic rules. How about taking a few minutes to appreciate the man's monumental life-long work by watching this video of Jerry explaining his passion.

QUILTY PLEASURE

Maps always give me a warm cozy feeling. Especially now that we here in NZ are in the grip of a freezing-cold winter, i just wish I could wrap myself up in a map and stay snug forever - ahhhh. Luckily for me, there are niche operators out there specialising in making map-quilts! Haptic Lab, for example, is solely dedicated to producing a wide range of cool quality quilt products (be sure to click on their readymades and store tabs too) and Leah Evans is an artist who is further exploring how a simple craft can become beautiful art or indeed a quilty pleasure (yeah, i crack me up too!)

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR CHILDHOOD

In 1921, the psychoanalyst Hermann Rorschach created ink-blot tests as a way to investigate why different people reacted 'abnormally' to common situations. The standardised ink-blot tests were actually just conversation pieces used to stimulate discussion with a patient.  For example, if a patient said that they saw an unhappy face in the ink-blot, then that probably revealed that they saw the world as an unhappy place in general. I'm not saying you're crazy, but it may be insightful for you to play with this slightly more topographical variation of the Rorschach test.

THE WRITING'S ON THE WALL

Suppose you were to search the Internet using the keywords: 'graffiti' and 'map' - the chances are you'd either be looking to get rid of graffiti by lodging your graffiti-grievance on a map, or if you're a more half-full type of individual, you'd actually be trying to locate cool graffiti in the area. However, Graffiti Map Art is a worthwhile search topic in its own right. I'm not saying that it's ostensibly a good thing to deface public property; but there is some sort of ironic merit in imprinting the representation of a place, onto the actual geography of the place. I'm sure Banksy would approve anyway.

OCTO-MAPPY

Even in today's crazy mixed-up world where anything goes, you probably wouldn't have ever guessed that the Octopus is in fact a prevalent figure within global mapping. You may have seen all sorts of maps, on all sorts of topics - yet you probably haven't seen any Octopi. If this is the case, I feel bad for you son - I've got 99 map problems but an Octopus ain't one,  hit me. 

SWINGERS PARTY

In this intriguing art installation entitled 'Suspended', created by Mona Hatoum; each swing-seat has been incised with a city map. As passing visitors wander through the installation and create air-currents; the chains sway gently and the effect is both visually elegant yet slightly eerie. More conceptually speaking; the map-seats represent floating archipelagos of urban islands and imply geographical-movement and dislocation. If you're willing to look a bit deeper and possibly swing a bit harder - the seats clash violently and ideas such as migrational and cultural discord erupt. Good eh?! Click here to see more.

TOOTHPICK MAP

I'd be the first to admit that a toothpick hanging smoothly from your lip can sometimes make you feel cooler than James Dean. But lets be honest, is it really enough of a rush to keep you toying with over 100,000 of them for 35 years?!  Possibly the only person in the world who can truthfully answer that (highly random) question is Scott Weaver, who has painstakingly created a map of San Francisco made entirely out of toothpicks!!!  Whilst it definitely seems crazy to me, its actually also pretty cool (and I haven't even got to the really awesome bit yet where it also functions as a marble run!) Well... it also functions as a marble run!!! Click here to watch the video.

COME ON IN, THE MAPPING'S WARM

Looks trippy doesn't it - that man splashing around above an underwater city?  I'll let you in on a secret though; he's not actually swimming above an underwater city - he's swimming around in a regular swimming pool! Yep, its a regular pool but it's had an aerial photo printed onto its sides as part of a publicity stunt for global climate change.  By literally challenging our perceptions regarding the water-level of the pool we are also prompted to consider our perceptions regarding the water-level of the planet.  I've seen a few maps on the subject and I'd have to say; this portentous peek into an apocalyptic future, does make me think!  (Though some of that thought is directed at the alterior motives for the installation) Click here first though to dive on in!

SHIP-SHAPE VIEW

When I first saw this happy yellow structure in my shipping container atlas I didn't know what it was, but I was greatly satisfied. Then, when I read on to find out that it was a viewing platform from which to view real-life topographic contour lines, I was greatly stoked (sad as it may be)! This is a German installation so if you don't sprechen sie deutsch (or if you're so lazy you cant copy & paste the text into google translator) allow me to summarise: Hannover University has implemented a clever idea to make the inhabitants and every-day passers-by of the Architecture and Landscape Faculties' value their landscape that they may otherwise take for granted. By physically painting contours onto the terrain of their campus, the viewers eyes are drawn away from the grandiose buildings and pleasant gardens, toward the space as a whole. In addition to this optical diversion, the fact that topo lines are usually only seen on paper maps also stimulates a conceptual diversion; an analogous blur between the way things appear in the paper world of Landscape Planning and Architectural design and the way the designs actually turn out and affect the 'real' world.