Maneggiare ombre 3-6 (Apres Seurat)

The plate is part of a series of ink drawings on original etchings describing European maps dating back to the late 17th century. The information is erased by ‘overwriting’ the entire map with black marks, leaving only the drawings drawn by the unknown engravers and the delimited areas such as cities, rivers and mountains uncovered. In doing so, the images acquire a new connotation: rivers become cobwebs or lightning, mountains clouds, cities stars. The drawings, which are two-dimensional, are displayed horizontally in wooden showcases and have whitened natural elements (turtle shells, various bones, plant fragments) resting on their surface, which are also entirely covered with signs almost as if to blend in with the background. Here is an attempt to transcribe the five dimensions known to man to date: two-dimensionality and the third dimension, then the description of time and finally the sphere of knowledge. China on paper, original etching from the late 17th century, tortoise bone shell drawn in India ink, wood and glass, original work.