Reproductie van een landkaart van Azië before 1895

Michel Berthaud made this reproduction of a map of Asia. It is an artifact from a time when cartography was as much about asserting dominance as it was about charting territories. Consider the power dynamics inherent in map-making. The map reflects not just geographical data, but also the cultural biases and colonial ambitions of its creators. This is more than just lines on paper; it's a statement of ownership, a way of laying claim to lands and resources, of marking "us" versus "them." What stories does it tell about who had the power to define the world and whose perspectives were erased in the process? Think about the human stories behind these explorations: the lives of sailors, traders, and indigenous peoples forever changed by these encounters. The map invites us to reflect on the legacy of colonialism and the ongoing struggles for self-determination, asking us to consider whose stories are told and whose remain hidden.