The Map As Art

I am really struck by the idea of map as abstract art. Historically, most societies have used maps not only as cultural imprints, but as constructive forms of art as well. However, as art shifted to the abstract during the 1960's, this brought up a very thought-provoking question: can a map be a form of abstract art and still be practical? Abstract art tends to be very divisive as many look on it and see it as abject pretense with minimalist effort representing laziness rather than artistic expression. Nevertheless, it can also be seen as a more democratic form of art as it tends to leave more to the imagination of the viewer allowing a more free individual interpretation among the audience. Still, when applying this abstract art form to maps, should individual interpretation be encouraged? Jasper Johns thought so, routinely creating maps of the US each with blends of colors and shapes that each create a different impression of an image with which the casual viewer is likely extremely familiar. Also, suprematism was another form of abstract art from earlier in the century that employed many of the conventions an American audience was growing familiar with seeing from aerial perspectives and vertical views. These art forms likely do not inspire confidence for their cartographic capabilities in the casual observer. However, they do serve an acute purpose, not to provide directions like a normal Western map, but to provide a new form of observation of the places that audiences may already know well. For instance, in Johns' paintings, political borders are obscured, but colors run through states and the surrounding countries apologetically. Without immediately recognizing the rigid borders to which most are accustomed, the ordinary viewer might see the large expanses of blue or other colors as their own terrain uniting California with Mexico and Nevada or Minnesota with North Dakota and Canada which would be true if not for arbitrarily decided boundaries decided by political forebears. Likewise, suprematism's abstract shapes may not immediately register as forms of maps, but at least on a subconscious level the audience recognizes the Earth's structures with the flattening effect provided by vertical views. These new forms of observation and interpretation allow for a new form of thinking not limited by the structuralist forms that regular maps implement and burn into our culture's collective consciousness.