Heterotopia

At the moment working part time and painting full time. It's hard to get everything done some times. There's been a few things I haven't been able to apply for because of a lack of time but I really can't complain as it's working out so far. I am really glad to be finished uni and not having to write a lot but I find that I am now going back to the books to learn more about what I am interested in.

I am looking at heterotopias right now. It is a concept in human geography elaborated by philosopher Michel Foucault to describe places and spaces that function in non-hegemonic conditions. These are spaces of otherness, which are neither here nor there, that are simultaneously physical and mental. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heterotopia_(space)) I am using the term to describe an idyllic home – an escape – situated in a landscape that may or may not physically exist and is nostalgically remembered from past experience, a dream or a yearned for place seen in a lifestyle magazine.


I utilise town planning maps to represent order, restrictions and boundaries imposed on the natural topography and how these artificially created limits reflect on the economic value of the land and the type of people, housing and industry that can be found in these places. In contrast to the drawn planning lines, abstracted housing and landscapes represent people’s dreams, realities and aspirations that may exist in these physical or mental heterotopias.

I have a great book Key thinkers on space and place that I am finding very useful right now.