RESEARCH DESCRIPTION by Lize Mogel
“A Model World” (working title) critically examines the Olympics and World’s Fairs (Expos) and how they transform global cities through planning, architecture, and ideology. It explores the different scales in which these international institutions shape local space, and compares and reflects on the spatial and social effects that Olympics and World’s Fairs have on cities.
The Olympics and the Worlds Fairs are both spectacular events on a global scale, simultaneously invoking nationalism (expressed through architecture and staging) and an overarching theme of global camaraderie that overlays real political relationships. They are much sought after by cities in a competitive bidding process, in hopes that the resulting event will put the host “on the map” and serve political and cultural agendas. Both Olympics and Worlds Fairs have also been strategically used by host cities (and nations) in revitalization plans—which range from sustainable plans for urban growth to heavy-handed urban renewal tactics and slum clearance.
BIO
Lize Mogel is an interdisciplinary artist who works with the interstices between art and cultural geography. She creates and disseminates counter-cartography— maps and mappings that produce new understandings of social and political issues. Her work connects the real history and collective imaginary about specific places to larger narratives of globalization. She has mapped public parks in Los Angeles; cross-species migration patterns in Idaho; and future territorial disputes in the Arctic. Her recent projects rethink popular representations of the world as it is shaped by global economies.
Lize inserts and distributes and cartographic projects into public space and via publications. She is co-editor of the book/map collection “An Atlas of Radical Cartography” and co-curator of the exhibition “An Atlas”, which is touring nationally. She also co-curated “Genius Loci”, an exhibition of conceptual mappings of Los Angeles (Sci-Arc, Los Angeles, California Museum of Photography, Riverside). She has also worked with groups including the Center for Land Use Interpretation and the Journal of Aesthetics and Protest. Exhibitions include the Gwangju Bienniale (South Korea,) common room (NYC), Overgaden (Copenhagen), and “Experimental Geography” (touring). She has received grants from the Jerome Foundation, the LEF Foundation,the Graham Foundation, the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, and the Danish Arts Council for her work.
http://www.publicgreen.com
http://www.an-atlas.com
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Brian Keith Jackson is an award-winning novelist, playwright and essayist. He writes frequently about art and culture. His work has appeared in the New York Times, The London Observer, New York magazine and essence.com among others.
Currently, he is working on his own fiction and essays, as well as a few things for publications. He is doing a piece for the Advocate on Queer Comrades, the longest running webcast in China targeting the LGBT community.
” I don’t really study, per se. I’m more organic than that and don’t really like to be restricted. I tend to immerse myself in my surroundings and look for the artistic and cultural relevance of what I digest and see what comes of it and usually something does.”
“I must say, I want to come back to this magical spot and see what we can do here in Shanghai. These days just isn’t enough! This can definitely be a part of the short story collection I’m working on. “
