The Art of the Everyday: Psychogeography and Urban Sketching in the City

Psychogeography is the study of the psychological and emotional effects of the built environment on individuals. It is a field that emerged in the 1950s and 1960s as part of the Situationist International, a group of artists and intellectuals who were interested in challenging the dominant culture and ideology of the time.

At its core, psychogeography is concerned with how the built environment shapes and reflects the culture and values of the people who inhabit it, and how it influences their emotions, behavior, and sense of place. It is a field that involves exploring and documenting the city in an open-ended and experiential way, and using art and other creative practices as a means of interpreting and understanding the city.

One of the main methods of psychogeography is the practice of "drifting" or "deriving," which involves aimlessly wandering around the city in an attempt to realize and fix the sensations and ideas caused by specific urban landscapes. This process of active exploration and discovery allows individuals to separate themselves from their everyday lives and experience the city in a new and personal way.

In addition to drifting, psychogeography also involves rethinking or releasing the usual meanings and values associated with specific places and landmarks. Rather than viewing the city through the lens of preconceived notions or stereotypes, psychogeographers seek to find their own personal meanings and interpretations of the city and its spaces.

One of the key goals of psychogeography is to turn people towards each other and towards the city, and to help them recognize and fall in love with their urban environment. Many psychogeographical projects are aimed at making people more aware of and connected to the city and its spaces, and encouraging them to explore and discover the city in new and meaningful ways.

One of the main tools used by psychogeographers is the creation of "anarchitectural" maps or routes, which seek to document and interpret the city in a creative and expressive way. These maps may focus on a variety of elements, such as the sensory experiences of the city, the hidden or unconscious meanings of its spaces, or the social and cultural context of its landmarks and neighborhoods.

In addition to creating maps and routes, psychogeographers may also engage in a variety of other activities, such as renaming streets, ignoring established boundaries, or finding new and creative ways to interact with the city and its spaces. Through these activities, psychogeographers seek to challenge and subvert dominant narratives and perspectives about the city, and to create new and alternative ways of experiencing and understanding it.

Many artists and intellectuals have been inspired by the ideas and practices of psychogeography, and have used them to create new and innovative works of art and cultural critique. Today, psychogeography continues to evolve and influence contemporary thought and practice, and remains an important and relevant field of study and creative expression.

While psychogeography is a relatively recent field, it has had a significant impact on contemporary art and culture.

One of the key ways in which psychogeography has influenced contemporary art and culture is through the practice of urban sketching. Urban sketching, also known as on-location drawing or travel art, involves creating drawings or paintings of the city or other built environments while on location. It is a practice that has gained popularity in recent years, with many artists and enthusiasts participating in urban sketching groups and events around the world.

Like psychogeography, urban sketching involves a focus on the sensory and emotional experiences of the built environment, and a commitment to exploring and documenting the city in an authentic and personal way. Urban sketchers may be interested in the psychological and emotional effects of the places they visit, and may use their art as a way to document and explore these effects.

In addition to its focus on sensory and emotional experiences, urban sketching also often involves an interest in the social and cultural context of the city and its spaces. Urban sketchers may be interested in the relationships and interactions between people and their environment, and in the ways in which the city reflects and embodies the culture and values of its inhabitants.

Both practices involve a focus on the ordinary and mundane aspects of the city, and on finding meaning and beauty in the everyday experiences of the urban environment.

In psychogeography, the everyday is often seen as a site of resistance and subversion, as it represents a challenge to the dominant narratives and ideologies of the city. By focusing on the everyday and the ordinary, psychogeographers seek to uncover hidden histories, stories, and meanings of the city, and to create new and alternative ways of experiencing and understanding the urban environment.

In urban sketching, the everyday is also often celebrated and documented, as it represents a rich source of inspiration and subject matter for the artist. By sketching the ordinary and mundane aspects of the city, urban sketchers can capture the essence and character of a place, and can create art that reflects the everyday experiences of the urban environment.

Overall, the idea of the everyday is an important aspect of both psychogeography and urban sketching, as it represents a way of finding meaning and beauty in the ordinary and mundane aspects of the city, and of creating new and alternative ways of experiencing and understanding the urban environment.

The Idea of the "Everyday."

Play and experimentation.

Both practices involve a sense of exploration and discovery, and often involve a willingness to take risks and try new things. In psychogeography, the concept of play is often associated with the idea of the "situation," or the temporary and spontaneous creation of new and alternative ways of experiencing and interacting with the urban environment. By creating and participating in situations, psychogeographers can challenge and subvert dominant narratives and ideologies of the city, and can create new and alternative ways of experiencing and understanding the urban environment.

In urban sketching, play and experimentation are also important, as they allow the artist to explore and discover new ways of seeing and interpreting the city. By trying out different techniques and approaches, urban sketchers can find new and creative ways of documenting and interpreting the city, and can create art that reflects their own unique perspectives and experiences of the urban environment.

In psychogeography, the concept of community is often associated with the idea of the "dérive," or the practice of drifting or deriving through the city in small groups. By engaging in the dérive, individuals can come together and share their experiences and insights about the city, and can create a sense of community and connection through their shared interests and experiences.

In urban sketching, community and collaboration are also important, as they allow artists to share their work and ideas with others, and to learn from and be inspired by their peers. Many urban sketching groups and events are centered on the idea of building community and fostering collaboration among artists, and offer opportunities for artists to come together and share their experiences and insights about the city.

Community and collaboration are important aspects of both psychogeography and urban sketching, as they allow individuals to connect with others who share their interests and passions, and to create and strengthen community ties through shared experiences and creative practices.

Community and Collaboration

Psychogeography and urban sketching are two practices that involve exploring and interpreting the city in creative and personal ways. Both practices involve a sense of exploration and discovery, and often involve a willingness to take risks and try new things. They also involve a focus on the ordinary and mundane aspects of the city, and on finding meaning and beauty in the everyday experiences of the urban environment. Both practices involve a sense of community and collaboration, and can be seen as ways of building and strengthening community ties.

The use of technology and social media has also had a significant impact on these practices, and has provided new platforms and tools for documenting and sharing experiences of the city. Overall, psychogeography and urban sketching offer rich and rewarding ways of exploring and understanding the city, and can help individuals to connect with the urban environment in new and meaningful ways.

Evgeny Bondarenko 林仁 亞

Urban Sketch artbooks collection: