The Island (I.O.W) Collage

This work was inspired by the material itself - an old fading map of the Isle of Wight. Useless now, as most of the data is out of date and not old enough yet to be classed as 'antique', and a little stained, so not even pristine, it is not 'valuable' to most people. Yet it is beautiful in its own way - it is printed on fabric-enforced paper, so is very tactile; it has a soft off-white hue, not the stark digital whites and bright colours we're all accustomed to in maps today; and it has it's own distinct character - it didn't feel like a faceless piece of paper to me. So, I set about rediscovering it, stitching it back together without actually dismantling it in the first place - creating new lines of latitude and longitude dependent on the physical history of the map itself - the folds and creases that were already there - essentially amplifying the wear and tear. The colours of the threads reflect those of the original inks in the map. I titled it 'The Island' not just because of the Isle of Wight at its centre, but because the map for me is cut off in time and now also in function. Essentially though, the grid of threads helps draw the viewer in - to look again at the inconsequential place names, map markings and connections that were once significant to the people on and around the island. The work is being framed for an exhibition - floated in a white box frame under non-reflective glass. I will have photos of it framed shortly.