{"id":1845083,"date":"2025-10-24T08:35:17","date_gmt":"2025-10-24T12:35:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.maproomblog.com\/?p=1845083"},"modified":"2025-10-24T08:35:19","modified_gmt":"2025-10-24T12:35:19","slug":"more-on-the-exhibition-of-le-guins-maps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.maproomblog.com\/2025\/10\/more-on-the-exhibition-of-le-guins-maps\/","title":{"rendered":"More on the Exhibition of Le Guin’s Maps"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Mike Duggan takes a look<\/a> at the exhibition of Ursula K. Le Guin\u2019s maps<\/a> currently running at the Architectural Association Gallery in London, which displays the maps as cyanotypes on fabric<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Book<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n

In the gallery space, Le Guin\u2019s maps are looked at in isolation rather than relating directly to a text. They demand a different kind of attention, for there is a different form of visual connection between a viewer and a gallery object than between a reader and a book. So the maps are taken out of their original context and placed in another. But this isn\u2019t to say this new context is any less significant. […]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There will forever be a tension between the map exhibition and the ways that maps are encountered in books. By definition they are being \u201cexhibited\u201d and put at the centre. And there\u2019s no doubt Le Guin\u2019s maps look impressive here, masterfully hung, printed on deep blue cotton, bathed in warm lighting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Draped thoughtfully in rows throughout the space is perhaps a nod to being immersed in the cartographic imagination of Le Guin. They are certainly a spectacle that encourages a closer look. But is that enough?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The exhibition runs through 6 December. The accompanying book is out now from\u00a0Spiral House<\/a> (and in the U.S. in January):\u00a0Amazon<\/a>\u00a0(Canada<\/a>,\u00a0UK<\/a>),\u00a0Bookshop<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Previously: The Word for World: The Maps of Ursula K. Le Guin<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Mike Duggan takes a look at the exhibition of Ursula K. Le Guin\u2019s maps currently running at the Architectural Association Gallery in London, which displays the maps as cyanotypes on fabric. In the gallery space,… More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"link","meta":{"autoblue_enabled":true,"autoblue_custom_message":"","autoblue_shares":[{"did":"did:plc:hhxrnk4vub7jtlcl3ve26kjo","date":"2025-10-24T12:35:22+00:00","uri":"at:\/\/did:plc:hhxrnk4vub7jtlcl3ve26kjo\/app.bsky.feed.post\/3m3wv6br4p327","response":"{\"uri\":\"at:\/\/did:plc:hhxrnk4vub7jtlcl3ve26kjo\/app.bsky.feed.post\/3m3wv6br4p327\",\"cid\":\"bafyreifu35ybl2nlmsafnrtf5o7wdgha6do5ug6yxl45wfnkayso7ogf5m\",\"commit\":{\"cid\":\"bafyreiavvhsqojugo5jfmjylfa6drb2iylt6qe4prfoeks7zrj6s2mad5y\",\"rev\":\"3m3wv6brghl27\"},\"validationStatus\":\"valid\"}"}],"autoblue_post_url":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[1320,50,31],"class_list":["post-1845083","post","type-post","status-publish","format-link","hentry","category-maps-and-literature","tag-earthsea","tag-exhibitions","tag-fantasy-maps","post_format-post-format-link"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1845291,"url":"https:\/\/www.maproomblog.com\/2025\/12\/more-on-le-guins-maps\/","url_meta":{"origin":1845083,"position":0},"title":"More on Le Guin’s Maps","author":"Jonathan Crowe","date":"11 December 2025","format":"link","excerpt":"The exhibition of Ursula K. Le Guin\u2019s maps at the Architectural Association Gallery in London (previously, previously) wrapped up last Saturday. The Library of America has an interview with Sarah Shin, who co-curated the exhibit and co-edited the accompanying book (which comes out in North America next month). A sample:\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Maps and Literature"","block_context":{"text":"Maps and Literature","link":"https:\/\/www.maproomblog.com\/category\/maps-and-literature\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1844875,"url":"https:\/\/www.maproomblog.com\/2025\/08\/the-word-for-world-the-maps-of-ursula-k-le-guin\/","url_meta":{"origin":1845083,"position":1},"title":"The Word for World: The Maps of Ursula K. Le Guin","author":"Jonathan Crowe","date":"22 August 2025","format":"link","excerpt":"The Word for World is both an upcoming exhibition and an upcoming book exploring the maps of Ursula K. Le Guin\u2014i.e., the maps she herself made for worlds like Earthsea. When Ursula K. Le Guin started writing a new story, she would begin by drawing a map.\u00a0The Word for World\u00a0presents\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Maps and Literature"","block_context":{"text":"Maps and Literature","link":"https:\/\/www.maproomblog.com\/category\/maps-and-literature\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Book cover: The Word for World","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.maproomblog.com\/xq\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/the-word-for-world-cover.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.maproomblog.com\/xq\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/the-word-for-world-cover.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.maproomblog.com\/xq\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/the-word-for-world-cover.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.maproomblog.com\/xq\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/the-word-for-world-cover.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1821675,"url":"https:\/\/www.maproomblog.com\/2023\/12\/limited-edition-earthsea-map-print-now-available\/","url_meta":{"origin":1845083,"position":2},"title":"Limited Edition Earthsea Map Print Now Available","author":"Jonathan Crowe","date":"6 December 2023","format":"link","excerpt":"A limited edition print of Ursula K. Le Guin\u2019s map of Earthsea has just been released. \u201cStarting with a high resolution photographic image of Le Guin\u2019s original, the team digitally cleaned or reinforced each line and letter, separating each color in the drawing as a layer, to make the maps\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Maps and Literature"","block_context":{"text":"Maps and Literature","link":"https:\/\/www.maproomblog.com\/category\/maps-and-literature\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Original map of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.maproomblog.com\/xq\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/leguin-earthsea-print-1024x800.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.maproomblog.com\/xq\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/leguin-earthsea-print-1024x800.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.maproomblog.com\/xq\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/leguin-earthsea-print-1024x800.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.maproomblog.com\/xq\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/leguin-earthsea-print-1024x800.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1786954,"url":"https:\/\/www.maproomblog.com\/2019\/01\/a-tube-map-of-earthsea\/","url_meta":{"origin":1845083,"position":3},"title":"A Tube Map of Earthsea","author":"Jonathan Crowe","date":"10 January 2019","format":"image","excerpt":"Everything under the sun can be expressed as a Tube map. Including, as blogger Camestros Felapton demonstrates above, Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea books. A glance at the original and official maps of Earthsea reveals that world as an intricate, almost overwhelming archipelago: Camestros's map, like all good transit diagrams,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Maps and Literature"","block_context":{"text":"Maps and Literature","link":"https:\/\/www.maproomblog.com\/category\/maps-and-literature\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A Tube Map of Earthsea (Camestros Felapton)","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.maproomblog.com\/xq\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/camestros-earthsea-tube-1024x934.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.maproomblog.com\/xq\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/camestros-earthsea-tube-1024x934.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.maproomblog.com\/xq\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/camestros-earthsea-tube-1024x934.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.maproomblog.com\/xq\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/camestros-earthsea-tube-1024x934.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1806316,"url":"https:\/\/www.maproomblog.com\/2022\/03\/the-direction-of-escape\/","url_meta":{"origin":1845083,"position":4},"title":"The Direction of Escape","author":"Jonathan Crowe","date":"11 March 2022","format":"link","excerpt":"I got lost in the map of an imaginary country. The Baedeker told me to look for the palace of government and I found my great-grandmother renouncing the head of a state that was never hers. This is how \u201cThe Direction of Escape,\u201d a poem by Sonya Taaffe published at\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Maps and Literature"","block_context":{"text":"Maps and Literature","link":"https:\/\/www.maproomblog.com\/category\/maps-and-literature\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2659,"url":"https:\/\/www.maproomblog.com\/2016\/08\/an-exhibition-of-antique-iowa-maps\/","url_meta":{"origin":1845083,"position":5},"title":"An Exhibition of Antique Iowa Maps","author":"Jonathan Crowe","date":"18 August 2016","format":"link","excerpt":"Iowa and the Midwest: An Exhibition of Antique Maps, an exhibition of maps of Iowa from four private collections,\u00a0runs from 12 August to 23 October at Simpson College's Willis Gallery. (Simpson College is situated\u00a0in Indianola, Iowa, just south of Des Moines.) \"The maps, which date from 1715 to 1902, chart\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Antique Maps"","block_context":{"text":"Antique Maps","link":"https:\/\/www.maproomblog.com\/category\/antique-maps\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.maproomblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1845083","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.maproomblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.maproomblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.maproomblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.maproomblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1845083"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.maproomblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1845083\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1845086,"href":"https:\/\/www.maproomblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1845083\/revisions\/1845086"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.maproomblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1845083"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.maproomblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1845083"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.maproomblog.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1845083"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}