Theatrum Orbis Terrarum 2013

Within the Map Room of the Casa da Índia in the sixteenth century, the Padrão Real, a secret map, was suspended from the ceiling. Protected from foreign spies, it was constantly updated with details from each expedition. Navigators used scientific instruments to measure distances and envisioned the vast territories they explored. While at sea, they navigated by the stars, creating imaginary lines to define new lands. Returning to shore, they altered existing maps, erasing old boundaries and establishing new ones. The original map was lost, and only a stolen copy, recreated from memory by a cartographer, remains as a testament to this era.

Studio