EN / Colourful nature of world affairs

The world is colourful. It is, at least, a conclusion that can be drawn from enjoying the Mappa series by Alighiero Boetti that until recently were displayed in London’s Tate Modern.

The exhibition, by name – “Game Plan” – with geopolitical connotations, offered an opportunity to experience how international affairs can be presented in arts.

Interestingly, the Italian artist did not make the Mappa (Map, in his native language) series himself. Boetti commissioned Afghan women at an embroidery school in Kabul to embroider his first map in 1971 and over the next 33 years they prepared 150 different maps for him. The artist’s fascination with Afghanistan and its struggle dates back to his second trip there, back in the late summer of ’71.

Even in his worst dreams, he probably would not have thought that over the next 40 years the country’ situation will not improve much, to say the least.

Boetti always seemed to be interested in putting more colour on the world maps. It was back in 1969-70 when he painted a printed world map in the colours of the country flags in what has been since known as “Planisferopolitico” (Political Planisphere), also at the recent displayed in Tate Modern.

The best known work of the series is the last one – “1989-1994” – now in his son Giordano's collection. Completed shortly before Boetti’s premature death, it shows the geopolitical changes of the break-up of the Soviet Union and the Czechoslovakia, the unification of Germany and the independence of Namibia. It has just, however, missed out on the regime change in South Africa and forthcoming bloodsheds in the Balkans...

For the connoisseurs of international affairs, Boetti’ series offer a great combination of presenting the changing (and colourful!) nature of world affairs. But there is still something to wish for. It is a pity that no-one else decided to continue the idea, particularly given the further diversification of states with the largest number of countries (and their flags) ever. Also, it would be interesting to see the series go even further back, into the past, by 50, 80 or 100 years, to show how the borders and flags have changed. It would be an interesting experiment, similar to the video of changing borders within Europe (the video, “An Epic Time-Lapse Map of Europe Over the Past 1000 Years”, has since been removed – to my great disappointment – it had 27 shares from my facebook profile only!). Perhaps an inspiring artist is reading it...