Discourses on Earth and Maps in Contemporary Art from Female Artists

Abstract

Since the end of World War II, the Earth’s environment has become an important subjects in art. The Earth and its representation, such as maps, have also been reconsidered and reinterpreted. Although a large number of artworks have been produced on these themes, academic analytical studies remain limited. Furthermore, there has been almost no research distinguishing works created by male and female artists, despite the fact that such issues are highly significant in the contemporary art world. This article aims to analyze the works of three female artists who focus on these issues. The study applies a method of “Discourse Analysis” within a “framework of knowledge,” following the approach of the French philosopher Michel Foucault. The findings reveal that these female artists construct discourses that encourage viewers to recognize “Binary Oppositions” related to the reinterpretation of the Earth, land, and maps from their own historical, social, and cultural perspectives. The three case studies highlight important issues presented as the following oppositions: 1. The opposition between digging deep into the Earth’s surface to reveal the history of existence and viewing the world as complete in itself in Michelle Stuart’s case. 2. The opposition between maps that are fragile and deteriorating, carrying specific cultural meanings, and maps that are generally considered permanent and enduring in Mona Hatoum’s case. 3. The opposition between cutting deeply into the Earth’s ground for viewers’ personal moments in time and vertically elevating forms into the air in a timeless manner in Maya Lin’s case. Beyond its potential for in-depth analysis of gender differences through a philosophical framework, this research also contributes an alternative approach to the analysis of visual art on the issues.

Highlights
• Identifies binary oppositions embedded in the artworks of Michelle Stuart, Maya Lin, and Mona Hatoum concerning Earth, land, and maps.
• Reveals how female artists construct alternative epistemological frameworks through place, memory, and lived experience.
• Despite employing different artistic media, the three artists share a common focus on interior space, transforming personal, historical, and cultural experiences into spatial narratives beyond conventional representations.
• Demonstrates how contemporary female artists challenge the monumental traditions of Land Art through intimate and experiential approaches to space.