My Mid-Term

Tate-Artists(1950-1961969) Data Analysis

Introduction

About: Tate comprises Tate Britain, Tate Modern, Tate Liverpool, and Tate St Ives, serving as premier destinations for art enthusiasts across the UK. These institutions curate an extensive collection of British art dating from 1500 to the present, as well as contemporary international works. When we mention a “Tate artist,” we’re highlighting those whose creations grace the walls of these esteemed galleries. Renowned figures such as J.M.W. Turner, William Blake, Francis Bacon, Pablo Picasso, and Mark Rothko are among the celebrated contributors whose artworks enrich the Tate experience, embodying a diverse spectrum of artistic expression and innovation.

Goal

To develop an interactive world map enabling users to explore the historical backgrounds of Tate artists from 1950 to 1969.

Methods

  • Data Cleaning
  • Formatting The Data Using ArcGIS
  • Creating A Web App
  • Sharing Results

Sources

The dataset utilized for this project was sourced from the Midterm Dataset, curated by Professor Austin Mason. The data originates from the Tate Collection repository, an open-source resource hosted on GitHub and maintained by Alex Pilcher. This repository serves as a comprehensive archive of artistic information, providing valuable insights into the works and artists featured in Tate’s collections

Process

Data Cleaning: After selecting the data for analysis in this project, I proceeded with data cleaning. I removed extra information such as Id, Yearofdeath, and Placeofdeath, as they were not pertinent to the analysis and contained numerous missing entries. Subsequently, I reorganized the remaining data to suit the project’s objectives. Initially, I prioritized Placeofbirth, followed by gender, names, dates, and URLs, arranging them in a sequence that I deemed most relevant for the project’s scope and objectives.
Finding a web tool: I encountered challenges in finding a suitable tool that could accommodate the type of data I was working with for this project. Initially, I attempted to utilize Flurish due to its promising graphing capabilities, which appeared to align closely with my visualization needs. However, upon importing the data, the visual output did not match the desired format, leading to significant discrepancies from the intended presentation. Subsequently, I turned to Rawgraphs2.0, a tool with which I had prior experience, but encountered difficulties due to missing x and y values essential for graph creation, rendering the tool ineffective for my purposes. Ultimately, I discovered ArcGIS, a robust and functional tool that enabled me to effectively visualize the data in the desired format. With ArcGIS, I was able to create a comprehensive map displaying information about Tate artists, addressing the project’s objectives and providing a satisfactory solution to the challenges encountered.
Visualizing Data: Utilizing ArcGIS, I successfully imported the data and customized the information to be displayed upon user interaction with the points on the map. Opting for the charted territory as the base map facilitated clearer visualization of the world map and the birthplaces of the artists. In terms of styling, I selected the default option with an attribute highlighting birthplace, effectively showcasing the diversity of Tate artists. This approach not only enhanced the visual appeal of the map but also provided users with a comprehensive understanding of the geographical distribution of Tate artists during the specified period.
Further adjustments: Following the completion of the map, I proceeded to develop a web application to enhance user interaction and ensure the appropriate display of information related to the artists. By creating a web app, I aimed to streamline user access and provide a user-friendly platform for exploring the map and accessing artist-related details. This approach facilitated seamless navigation and allowed users to engage more effectively with the map, fostering a richer understanding of the Tate artists and their backgrounds within the specified timeframe.
Share: Upon completing the setup of the web application, I generated an embedded version of the map below to enable users to interact with it conveniently. By embedding the map within the web app, I aimed to enhance accessibility and provide users with a seamless experience when exploring the Tate artists’ data. This embedded version offers a user-friendly interface for users to engage with the map, enabling them to access relevant information and delve into the diverse backgrounds of Tate artists from 1950 to 1969.

Data Visualization

Presentation

The embedded map provides a comprehensive display of all Tate artists from 1950 to 1969, with each point representing an individual artist. Upon clicking on a point, users can access detailed information about the respective artist, facilitating a deeper understanding of their background and contributions. In instances where multiple artists originate from the same location, the sidebar beneath the person’s name displays additional artists from similar origins, enriching the user’s exploration experience. Although attempts were made to differentiate male and female artists through color coding, challenges were encountered in implementing this feature. Despite this limitation, the map remains a valuable resource for users to navigate and appreciate the diverse array of Tate artists during the specified period.

Significance

The project’s results yield an interactive world map enabling users to explore Tate artists from 1950-1969, offering valuable insights into the geographical distribution and diversity of Tate’s artistic community during that period. Leveraging ArcGIS, the approach successfully organizes and visualizes artist data, allowing users to engage with individual profiles and gain deeper understanding of their backgrounds and contributions to the art world. Despite strengths in data visualization and interactivity, challenges include the inability to implement gender-based coloring within the map and initial difficulties in selecting suitable visualization tools. User familiarity with interactive web applications also poses a potential hurdle to accessibility. Addressing these limitations through iterative refinement and clear user guidance could enhance the map’s functionality and broaden its appeal to a wider audience, underscoring the project’s commitment to ongoing improvement and usability optimization.