Paper Map Sculptures Depict Cities at Climactic Points in History

“Lower Manhattan”

Artist Matthew Picton combines art and history in his meticulous city map sculptures. Based on historical maps and extensive research, the sculptures are crafted from paper materials connected to the history of the cities, from books and newspapers to sheet music. Many of the sculptures depict cities at climactic points in their histories—fires, war, disease—which Picton replicates by burning or otherwise marring the finished sculptures. His work will be on display at the
Toomey Tourell Fine Art gallery in San Francisco, June 6 to July 14, 2013.

“Lower Manhattan” (detail)

“Venice”

“San Francisco 1906”

“London 1940”

photos by Rob Jaffe

via Feel Desain