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Alfredo Jaar — The Body is the Map
Alfredo Jaar

The Body is the Map

In this work by Alfredo Jaar, the human body becomes a site of geopolitical and humanitarian inquiry, where flesh and geography collapse into one another. Jaar, known for his unflinching engagement with global injustice and the politics of representation, transforms the body into a charged cartographic surface — a landscape marked by history, displacement, and power. The piece invites viewers to consider how borders, suffering, and identity are inscribed not only on maps but on living, vulnerable human forms.

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December 9, 2015

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About this work

Alfredo Jaar, The Body is the Map

In this work by Alfredo Jaar, the human body becomes a site of geopolitical and humanitarian inquiry, where flesh and geography collapse into one another. Jaar, known for his unflinching engagement with global injustice and the politics of representation, transforms the body into a charged cartographic surface — a landscape marked by history, displacement, and power. The piece invites viewers to consider how borders, suffering, and identity are inscribed not only on maps but on living, vulnerable human forms.

Seen at
Phillips, New York, London, Hong Kong

Related themes

Chilean Artist, Dark Mood, Human Rights Theme, Male Artist, Conceptual Art, Contemporary Artist, Social Commentary, Socially Engaged Practice, Installation Art, Photography And Text, Photography and Installation, Late 20th Century, Dark And Somber Mood, Political Art, Text And Image, Cartography Motif

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