The [Contingent] Atlas

2022 Ring bound book, 4” x 22”, 78 pages.

The [Contingent] Atlas is a series of maps of all the coastlines of the world as represented by the 1981 National Geographic World Atlas, alternating between translucent pages representing existing coastlines, and blue pages showing areas of elevation in color, areas remaining blue in danger of climate change flooding. The series of drawings was inspired by a medieval map created in 1154 CE by Al-Sharif al-Idrisi for Roger II of Sicily. This version, however, depicts the accelerating impact of climate changes as sea level rises and river flooding becomes more powerful, devastating cities and people around the world.

This book is associated with Santa Maria de Assunta, Arab Norman Cathedral of Palermo, Sicily, the 14th drawing in the Anastylosis Project.