Paul Critchley

It is impossible to draw a sphere in perspective however it is possible to put a sphere in perspective. To draw something in perspective means to represent a three dimensional object on a two dimensional plane in such a manner that the eye is fooled into believing that the object portrayed is in fact three dimensional*; to put something in perspective means to relate one object to another whether this is done with physical objects or with abstract ideas such as Putting The World into Perspective. In the days before Columbus sailed across the Atlantic and Megellan circumnavigated the world nearly 500 years ago, to those who lived along the coast of the Mediterranean, the sea must have felt like it was the centre of the world - hence its name Middle - Land. Even to this day we talk about going to all corners of the world. This painting performs two jobs, firstly by showing a globe in perspective and secondly by putting the Mediterranean in perspective to the rest of the world despite the fact that we can only see half of it - a cubic globe would make an interesting sculpture. Paintings can be read very much like maps, and on occasions, maps can be read like paintings especially when they are upside down and all we see are lines and colours which appear confusing until we can orientate ourselves. This painting is set out on the grid pattern of longitude and latitude at 10 intervals, with a Polar Square 66 33N. The eight corners of the globe are at 0 45N, 90E 45N, 180 45N, 90W 45N and 0 45S, 90E 45S, 180 45S, 90W 45S. The squares on each side are the same but these squares distort the proportions because in reality the segments nearest the equator have a greater surface area. Nonetheless it would be possible to navigate the world using this cube and for the ancient mariner, who thought that if he sailed to the horizon he would fall off the surface of the world, looking at this cube would be reassuring. * However it is possible to draw the light and shade on a sphere in perspective but this is not the same as drawing the form, try it.