A tour de force: Douglas Chapman reviews Adam Dant’s 'Political Maps'

Adam Dant’s Political Maps, published by Batsford

Douglas Chapman MP

@DougChapmanSNP

As a huge fan of maps, I was delighted to be invited to review Adam Dant’s new collection of political maps.

The minimal title of this wonderful book underplays the artist’s quirky and perceptive interpretation of the world of politics both at home and globally. For this is no straightforward representation of created borders, population centres or seats of power – this is a deep imaginative dive into a complex and often murky political milieu, where Dant “stretches the parameters” of traditional cartography.

In “Johnson’s London,” we are treated to a whistle-stop “blond ambition” tour of the capital, complete with Bojo’s zip-wire antics to celebrate Team GB’s first gold in the heyday of the 2012 Olympics, illustrations of former wives and girlfriends, flaxen siblings and journalistic liberties, plus his two terms as mayor in the “glass gonad” at City Hall. Less a celebration of our Prime Minister, more a Greek tragedy of pathways to power, all watched over ironically by Pericles, Johnson’s hero and companion in the form of a bust at Number 10. 

In Dant’s “Stop that Brexit,” the artist draws parallels with Dastardly and Muttley, the First World War flying aces whose acrobatic attempts to “Stop the Pigeon” were about as successful as Remain enthusiasts’ efforts to halt the biggest act of self-harm to hit the United Kingdom in living memory. Like a runaway train, the timeline runs through the gauntlet from David Cameron’s ill-fated capitulation to the splendid isolationists in his party, right down to Donald Tusk’s “special place in hell” for the planless Brexit brigands, and the failed prorogation of Parliament, where, I may be so bold to point out to  Mr Dant, the badge of honour as the only MP to ever beat Boris Johnson is still worn proudly by the SNP’s Joanna Cherry (who successfully led the cross-party appeal over Brexit in the Court of Session in Scotland). She is missing from the cast of principled characters who adorn this illustration, such as Dominic Grieve and Angela Merkel, with the voting public pushed to the sidelines, trying to make their voices heard.

Less a celebration of our Prime Minister, more a Greek tragedy

However, such is the artist’s style, wit and elegance, it would be churlish to find any fault with this beautiful book. After all, in “Scottish London,” he celebrates the architectural brilliance of Robert Adam and his legacy in the city, alongside William Arrol, the Scot who was responsible for the construction of Tower Bridge, and the infamous fictional character Malcolm Tucker, who I’m sure might accuse me of being “so back bench”!

This collection is a political tour de force, a philosophical and intricate analysis of legitimacy, legacy, historical and moral context, dotted with the great and the good, with political machinations and manipulations, not least in his “The Paradise of Sleaze” map, where “sex and money” lie at the core of most Westminster scandals. Of course, this stylish and detailed portrayal would not be complete without the downfall of Charles Parnell for his affair with Kitty O’Shea. Two centuries on, it’s hard to imagine adultery bringing down ministers. In fact, it’s hard to imagine just quite what circumstances it might take for any politician to resign. As ever, in times of turbulence such as these, there is much comfort and joy to be found in art, and in particular the subversive and creative humour of Adam Dant.

Douglas Chapman is SNP MP for Dunfermline and West Fife

Adam Dant’s Political Maps
By: Adam Dant
Publisher: Batsford
 

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