Pansamantalang Mundo

From Cian Dayrit’s introduction to a section on countermaps by women political prisoners, translated to Filipino in PANSAMANTALANG MUNDO: MGA AKDA NG MGA KABABAIHANG BILANGGONG POLITIKAL 2024-2026:

“A map is a flat representation space, time and authority. Although static, it is an overtly political document which is commonly used by the state and corporations to visualize notions of territory, property. These are used to take advantage and suppress the voices of the masses. Maps have killed more people than guns ever had. Countermaps however challenge the violent functions of traditional maps authored from positions of power. They subvert dominant narratives by showing the lived experiences, struggles and aspirations of people. This method is directed towards marginalized groups allowing them to reclaim authorship of spatial representations based on their own perspectives.”

“There is no better or more hopeful map of the world than those made by political prisoners. With these maps, we learn that from behind bars are clearer stories of freedom.”