topophobia

3 Mar-22 Apr 2012

Overview

Ten artists explore fear of place - Anne Eggebert, Matze Einhoff, David Ferrando Giraut, Polly Gould, Marja Helander, Uta Kogelsberger, Abigail Reynolds, Almut Rink, Emily Speed and Louise K Wilson - respond to this intriguing subject through drawing, video, painting, photography sculpture, sound and installation. As an anxiety disorder, topophobia is an irrational dread of certain places or situations. However, considered as a cultural phenomenon, the condition connects us to existential human questions of how we find our place in the world. The exhibition and accompanying publication take a look at the representation of place and space as both threatened and threatening. Artists in the exhibition consider basic rules of perspective, the significance of printed books and mapmaking, the influence of the camera, computer animation of simulated space, the wonder of Google earth and the possibility of recording sonic traces of an environment.