Paula Scher’s Amazing Maps

Paula Scher has been painting maps since the 1990s. Using vibrant colours and stunning detail, some of these paintings have grown to stand at over 12 feet tall. 39 of her works of art have now been collected in her new book, aptly titled MAPS.

The paintings actually house a remarkable amount of substantial information. In one painting, named 'International Air Routes', she has included flight paths and names of different airlines, while 'World Trade' has international currencies and trade routes. All of this information is crammed into an array of colours and geographical lines, which really have to be seen to be believed. Importantly, her book features close-up shots so the reader can truly appreciate every intricacy.

Scher says "I began painting maps to invent my own complicated narrative about the way I see and feel about the world. I wanted to list what I know about the world from memory, from impressions, from media, and from general information overload. These are paintings of distortions.”

In her book you will find maps of everywhere from China to New York City. Not only visually stimulating, Scher's pieces offer an individual distortion of the world and strong commentary about our society and often chaotic lifestyles.

[via Cool Hunting]