Christine Mackey

b. 1968, Ireland

Provisional is an ongoing development and interest in maps. ‘Provisional’ can mean having the nature of a temporary arrangement made to meet special circumstances, and intended to last only as long as these circumstances last – tentative, subject to revision. ‘Provision’ is the ‘action of providing’ (Oxford Dictionary). ‘Provisional’ constitutes a temporary act for a temporary solution – hence Provisional.

The drawing process involves tracing the outline borders of the countries of Europe (to begin with), using scotch tape. The scotch tape is taped onto the outline of each country, and then traced over with a pencil. These taped line drawings of various lengths are restated onto the gallery wall at various points, which, in turn, cross, layer, and obliterate each other, causing confusion and disorientation, challenging the viewer’s perception on drawing, space and the re-marking of geographical boundaries in relation to maps. I intend to execute this work (never to repeat the same drawing) in various venues throughout Europe, building up my collection of maps as I go. The place and space of each venue will be reflected in the making of each work. The long-term plan is to document this work so that it can be produced and published as a book.

The map … constructs the unconscious, it fosters connections between fields, it is itself part of the rhizome. The map is open and connectable in all of its directions; it is detachable, reversible, susceptible to constant modification. It can be torn, reversed, adapted to any kind of mounting, reworked by an individual, group or social formation. It can be drawn on a wall, conceived as a work of art, constructed as a political action.

— Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari (Autonomedia, USA, 1998)

(Text: on the border of each other catalogue, 2003)