Kaart van Macao en omliggende eilanden c. 1803

This is an uncredited map of Macau and its surrounding islands. Cartography itself is a symbolic act, charting not just geography but also the extent of power and knowledge. Consider the islands as fragmented entities, reminiscent of the scattered body parts in ancient myths of creation. These separated forms find parallels in the dismembered body of Osiris, scattered across Egypt, or the fragmented body of Dionysus, torn apart by the Titans. Just as Isis reassembled Osiris, maps piece together the known world, imposing order and meaning. The desire to chart and control the environment echoes through time, reflecting our need to bring order to chaos and understand our place within the world, both consciously and subconsciously. This is a timeless psychological and cultural impulse expressed in ancient myths, rituals, and the modern map before us.