Iconologia dos intervalos, limiares cartográficos

Abstract

This article recalls the Aby Warburg’s relevant contribution to understand images in the field of communication. We discuss concepts of “afterlife” (Nachleben) and “pathos formula” (pathosformel), central in the creation of the “iconology of intervals” of this German thinker. Starting from the approach conceived by Warburg in his Mnemosyne Atlas, this research seeks to expand the application of this methodology to the study of maps. Our hypothesis is that the distortion of cartographic language opens up the possibility of enhancing the heuristic functions of maps, awakening a imaginative knowledge about the heterogeneity of space. To demonstrate these two concepts, an artwork called the “Long March” by Qin Ga will be analyzed, which explores the cartographic language in the context of contemporary art. Discussions will be supported by authors such as Agamben and Didi-Huberman.