Self Topography on paper
Self Topography on paper / Self-Sufficient Topography.
Guy Lougashi, Keynote speaker - IAPMA congress 2023 “paper alive”, Dresden.
Artists have long been interested in topography, or the representation of physical, social, and psychological landscapes, to express their individuality, desires, and themes. However, what happens when topography becomes a self-sufficient entity? This is the concept of "self- sufficient topography", where an artist's creative expression is not just shaped by their environment, but also actively generates and sustains its own momentum.
One way artists can create self-sufficient topography is by using readily available materials such as paper, which is a versatile material found in various aspects of life. Artists can tap into this abundance and explore the many uses and contexts of paper. It is not just a neutral material but has its own history, cultural significance, and symbolism. Paper has been used for writing and printing for centuries, making it an important tool for communication and self- expression.
It is also associated with fragility, transience, and ephemerality, reflecting the impermanence of human existence.
Using paper as a medium, artists can create their own unique forms and structures, express their individuality and create a reflection of their desires, themes, and perspectives.
Creating self topography through paper has a practical dimension as well. The concept of self-sufficient topography suggests a new way of approaching art-making, one that is not just about representation but also about generating and sustaining creative energy. By using paper as a medium and exploring its many uses and contexts, artists can create their own self- sufficient topography, a reflection of their own DNA, "handwrite", and personal identity.
Nature can be a great source of inspiration and learning for humans, including creativity and artistic expression.
By observing and interacting with the natural world, we can learn about patterns, textures, colors, and shapes that can inform our creative endeavors. Additionally, we can learn about the interconnectedness and fragility of ecosystems, which can inform our approach to sustainability and environmentalism in our creative work.
Exploring Self-Topography in Creative ExpressionSelf-topography is the unique set of characteristics that make up an individual's personal landscape, which includes a wide range of factors such as environment, experiences, culture, and personal history.
Creative expression is one way in which individuals can explore and express their self- topography.
Using the example of an artist who lives near the Dead Sea in Israel, this artist's personal landscape is shaped by the arid climate, unique topography, and cultural history of the region. While paper was not historically used in this area, the artist still uses paper as their medium, incorporating the textures, colors, and shapes of the surrounding landscape into their artwork. By using the environment and materials as a means of exploring personal landscapes, the artist creates self-sufficient topography. The resulting artwork is a reflection of their experiences, identity, imagination and relationship with the world around them even when he transform those elements into distant lunar landscapes and death.
Self-topography extends beyond the use of materials and environment in creative expression and includes the mental, conceptual, and biographic aspects of an individual's life, such as themes, inspirations, and concepts, which are all shaped by their personal experiences and beliefs.
By exploring personal landscapes through artwork, we can gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and our relationship with the world. Whether we use traditional or unconventional materials, the environment and materials we choose to work with can serve as powerful tools for self-exploration and self-expression.
Self Topography: How our Personal Experiences, Beliefs, and Surroundings Influence Artistic ExpressionThe way we express ourselves artistically is often a reflection of our personal experiences, beliefs, and surroundings. These elements form a unique map of our self, which we can call our “
The idea of the body and inner world as topography refers to the notion that our physical and mental experiences shape who we are, just as landscapes and environments shape the physical world around us. Our personal histories, emotions, and inner experiences can be seen as terrain that we navigate, and this can also be reflected in our artistic expression.
Time is definitely an important factor to consider when discussing the influence of environment and materials on artistic expression. The passage of time can affect not only the physical aspects of a material or environment, but also the way an artist perceives and interprets it. For example, an artist who has been living in a certain environment for many years may have a deeper understanding and connection to it than someone who has only recently arrived. Similarly, a material that has aged and weathered may have a different character and texture than when it was new, and an artist may use this to their advantage in their work. Time can also affect an artist's personal experiences and perspective, which may in turn influence their creative expression.
Exploring the Theory of Self-Topography in Contemporary Art
Art is often seen as a reflection of the artist's personal experiences, beliefs, and surroundings. The way we express ourselves artistically can be influenced by factors such as education, culture, social environment, and politics. However, there is another dimension to this connection between art and the artist's life that is often overlooked: the concept of self- topography.
Self-topography refers to the idea that an artist's personal history, physical environment, and emotional landscape can serve as a map or blueprint for their artistic expression. In other words, just as the topography of a landscape is shaped by natural forces and human activity, an artist's self-topography is shaped by their experiences, memories, and relationships. This theory posits that an artist's unique topography can be a source of inspiration, materials, and techniques for their creative work.
In conclusion, the theory of self-topography provides a new perspective on the connection between an artist's life and their creative work. By exploring the topography of their personal history, physical environment, and emotional landscape, artists can create work that speaks to their unique experiences and emotions. The use of traditional crafts and materials can serve as a bridge between the past and the present, and can help to create contemporary work that is grounded in personal and cultural history. The theory of self-topography offers a powerful tool for artists looking to explore their personal narrative and create work that is authentic and meaningful.
One artist who exemplifies the concept of self-topography is Maria Lai from Sardinia. Lai grew up in a conservative patriarchal society where women were often left alone while their husbands were out herding. Despite the limitations imposed by her culture and society, Lai used her surrounding environment and traditional crafts to create groundbreaking contemporary art that spoke to her personal experiences and emotions.
Lai's use of paper as a medium is a prime example of how an artist can use their personal topography as a source of inspiration. Paper was not a part of traditional Middle Eastern culture, which is where Lai grew up, but she found ways to incorporate it into her work by using it as a concept rather than just a material. In this way, Lai's use of paper became a reflection of her self-topography.
Another artist who shares Lai's approach is Hanaa Malallah, who is known for her use of paper and traditional Iraqi crafts in her work. Malallah's work explores themes such as identity,
displacement, and the impact of war on Iraqi culture. Like Lai, she uses her personal topography as a source of inspiration and materials for her art.
However, self-topography is not just about using personal history and cultural background as a source of inspiration. It also involves the impact of physical environment and the passage of time on an artist's work. For example, the aging of materials and the effects of climate on a landscape can serve as a source of inspiration for an artist's creative work. Similarly, an artist's physical and emotional experiences can shape the topography of their inner world, which can be expressed through their art.
In conclusion, the theory of self-topography provides a new perspective on the connection between an artist's life and their creative work. By exploring the topography of their personal history, physical environment, and emotional landscape, artists can create work that speaks to their unique experiences and emotions. The use of traditional crafts and materials can serve as a bridge between the past and the present, and can help to create contemporary work that is grounded in personal and cultural history. The theory of self-topography offers a powerful tool for artists looking to explore their personal narrative and create work that is authentic and meaningful.
My theory discusses the concept of "self-sufficient topography" in contemporary art. It explains that self-sufficient topography is a creative expression that generates and sustains its own momentum, where an artist's personal history, environment, and emotional landscape can serve as a map or blueprint for their artistic expression. The text suggests that an artist can create self-sufficient topography by using readily available materials, such as paper, which can be explored in various uses and contexts, reflecting the impermanence of human existence. Furthermore, the text highlights that nature can be a great source of inspiration and learning for humans, including creativity and artistic expression. The text emphasizes that personal experiences, beliefs, and surroundings can influence artistic expression and that time is a significant factor that affects an artist's personal experiences and perspective. The theory of self-topography provides a new perspective on the connection between an artist's life and their creative work, where exploring personal landscapes through artwork can provide a deeper understanding of oneself and our relationship with the world.
As an artist, I have always been fascinated by the idea that our personal history and experiences can serve as a source of inspiration for our creative work.
This curiosity led me to explore the theory of self-topography, which suggests that an artist's unique personal landscape, including their physical environment, emotional experiences, and cultural background, can serve as a map or blueprint for their artistic expression.
Through my research, I have discovered that self-topography is a complex and multifaceted concept that encompasses a wide range of factors.
These can include everything from our family history and upbringing to our relationships, life experiences, and cultural influences.
By examining and exploring these various elements, an artist can gain a deeper understanding of their own unique perspective and creative potential.
One of the key insights that self-topography offers is the importance of our physical environment in shaping our creative output. Whether we work in a cluttered studio, a minimalist space, or a chaotic environment, our surroundings can have a profound impact on our mood, energy levels, and artistic vision.
By paying attention to the ways in which our environment influences our creative process, we can learn to harness its power and channel it into our work.
Another important aspect of self-topography is the role of emotional experiences in shaping our artistic expression. Whether we draw inspiration from our own emotional landscapes or those of others, our emotions can be a powerful tool for creating art that is both meaningful and impactful. By exploring our own emotional landscape and using it to fuel our creative work, we can tap into a rich source of inspiration and create work that resonates deeply with others.
Finally, self-topography emphasizes the importance of cultural background and identity in shaping our artistic expression. Whether we draw on our own cultural heritage or explore the cultural landscapes of others, our cultural identity can be a powerful source of inspiration for our work.
By embracing our own cultural background and incorporating it into our creative process, we can create art that is both unique and deeply rooted in our own personal / subjective history and experience.
Overall, my experience as an artist has taught me that self-topography is a rich and complex concept that can be applied in a wide range of creative contexts. By exploring the various elements that make up our own personal landscape, we can tap into a rich source of inspiration and create work that is both unique and deeply meaningful.
Whether we are exploring our physical environment, emotional experiences, or cultural heritage, self-topography offers a powerful framework for understanding and harnessing the creative potential within each of us.
Guy Lougashi, Artist.
Paper Lab founder
