MAPLondon

Using both contemporary and historical sources as starting points, in the workshop we explored the possibilities of the map as a graphic medium. Inspired by Grayson Perry's use of a Renaissance visual framework to figure modern-day experiences, I experimented with using Medieval iconography to represent my own idiosyncratic encounters London.

While I found the juxtaposition between historic and contemporary in these experiments interesting, I felt there was more to be exploited in the medium of the map and so visited the 'Magnificent Maps' exhibition at the British Library. This provided me with a number of ideas/concepts to explore further, including:

• A 'map' need not necessarily tell the truth or be geographically accurate

• Rotating text labels through 180 degrees results in a map that is technically accurate, yet strangely disorientating (see Descelier's 1550 World Map)

• London as a literal island (see Stephen Walter's The Island)

• Map as encyclopaedia - featuring prominent social/political figures/events

From these ideas I decided to experiment with a hybrid of Grayson Perry and Stephen Walter, that is, a map that presents London as an actual island but using the visual landscape of the Medieval and Renaissance maps. Further, I then considered the literary trope of the island as an area for subversion of social/political structures (eg, The Tempest, Lord of the Flies, The Beach, etc), and so decided to invert my island such that it was still recognisable as London, but in a disorientating guise.

Following on from this I explored the idea of power and display through the map, experimenting with the presentation of iconic misbehaving Londoners such as Amy Winehouse, Russell Brand, Kate Moss, etc, as peerless royalty and London's true political/financial power figures, eg, David Cameron, Alan Sugar, the Queene as Renaissance monsters, demons, etc. Edmund Spenser's epic Poem The Faerie Queene seemed the perfect source for characters and descriptions due to its own highly allegorical form and historical literary style.

Having planned the style and content of my map of the Isle of London, I just need to work it up as a final outcome!