Schizocartography: Mapping Resistance in Gaza

Gazan Artist’s Work Reveals Power of ‘Schizocartography’ in Resistance

Venice, Italy – The artwork of Gazan artist Mohammed Alhaj is gaining recognition as a powerful exmaple of “schizocartography” – a method of mapping that challenges dominant power structures and reclaims individual subjectivity. This emerging discipline, blending philosophy, politics, and geography, offers a unique lens through which to understand social upheaval and resistance movements.

Alhaj’s paintings, born from the realities of life in Gaza, expose the contradictions inherent in urban spaces and offer a visual language that transcends political boundaries. Even as his studio has been destroyed and independent reporting restricted, his art has resonated beyond gaza, finding a place within the cultural landscape of cities like Venice.

Schizocartography, as explored by scholars like Hanjo Berressem and Ian Buchanan, isn’t simply about creating maps; it’s about disrupting established narratives and highlighting the often-silenced experiences of those living through crisis. It acknowledges that resistance manifests not only in large-scale protests but also in subtle, everyday acts of creative expression.The work of Alhaj, alongside the photographic activism documented by Activestills and the collective memory explored by Tal Ben-Zvi, demonstrates how art can serve as both a record of trauma and a space for resilience.Ruba Salih and Sophie Richter-Devroe’s research further emphasizes the crucial role of art, aesthetics, and affect in Palestinian resistance.

In a context where on-location news coverage is often impossible, Alhaj’s art provides a vital form of documentation and remembrance. it underscores the enduring power of artistic expression, even in the face of immense sacrifice, offering a potent reminder of the human cost of conflict and the importance of reclaiming narratives. This artistic output, as Charles Stivale notes, taps into a deeper current of schizoanalysis, offering a unique perspective on power and resistance.

Sources:

Art Zone Palestine – Mohammed Alhaj
Berressem, Hanjo. Felix Guattari’s Schizoanalytic Ecology. Edinburgh University Press, 2020.
Ben-Zvi, tal. “Wa-Ma nasayna (We Have Not Forgotten): Palestinian Collective Memory and the Print Work of Abed abdi.” Israel Studies, vol. 21, no. 1, 2016, pp. 183-208
Buchanan, Ian. The Incomplete Project of Schizoanalysis: Collected Essays on Deleuze and Guattari. Edinburgh University Press, 2021.
Maimon, Vered, and Shiraz Grinbaum, editors. Activestills: Photography as Protest in Palestine/Israel. Pluto Press, 2016.
Salih, Ruba, and Sophie Richter-Devroe. “CULTURES OF RESISTANCE IN PALESTINE AND BEYOND: ON THE POLITICS OF ART, AESTHETICS, AND AFFECT.” The Arab Studies Journal,vol. 22, no. 1, 2014, pp. 8-27.
stivale, Charles J. “Gilles deleuze & Félix Guattari: Schizoanalysis & Literary Discourse.” SubStance*, vol. 9, no.4, 1980, pp. 46-57.

How does the concept of “lines of flight” relate to the function of tunnels in Gaza, according to the text?

The Emergence of a Counter-Mapping Practice

Schizocartography, a term coined by philosopher Félix Guattari, isn’t simply about mapping Gaza; it’s about mapping the forces acting upon Gaza, and crucially, the lines of flight and resistance emerging from within.It’s a radical cartography born from the necessity to represent a reality systematically obscured by dominant narratives and physical blockades. Conventional cartography, ofen serving state interests, presents a fixed, objective view.Schizocartography, conversely, embraces fluidity, subjectivity, and the chaotic energy of lived experience – notably relevant in a context like Gaza, marked by constant upheaval and displacement. This approach is vital for understanding Palestinian resistance, Gaza’s urban landscape, and the impact of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Deconstructing Official Maps: The Politics of Representation

Official maps of Gaza often reinforce the narrative of a contained, isolated territory.They highlight borders, settlements, and security zones, effectively erasing the internal dynamics of palestinian life and resistance. schizocartography challenges this by:

Mapping the Blockade: Visualizing not just the physical barriers – walls, checkpoints, sea closures – but also the effects of the blockade on movement, trade, and access to resources. This includes mapping the “shadow economy” that arises from necessity.

Mapping Trauma: Representing the psychological and emotional landscapes shaped by conflict, loss, and displacement. This can involve mapping sites of memory,collective grief,and resilience.

Mapping Infrastructure of Resistance: Identifying and visualizing the networks of solidarity, mutual aid, and underground infrastructure that sustain life and resistance in Gaza. This isn’t about pinpointing specific locations, but rather mapping the relationships and flows of support.

Mapping digital Resistance: Documenting the use of social media,citizen journalism,and online activism as tools for challenging dominant narratives and mobilizing support. Social media activism plays a crucial role in disseminating data.

Tools and Techniques in Schizocartographic Practice

Schizocartography isn’t limited to traditional map-making. It employs a diverse range of tools and techniques:

1. Participatory Mapping: Involving Gazan residents directly in the mapping process, allowing them to define what is notable and how it should be represented.this ensures the map reflects lived realities,not external perceptions.
2. Counter-Mapping Workshops: Facilitating workshops where Palestinians can collectively create maps that challenge official narratives and reclaim their own spatial agency.
3. Data Visualization: Utilizing data on casualties, demolitions, and displacement to create visual representations of the impact of the conflict. Data analysis is key to revealing patterns.
4. Artistic Interventions: Employing artistic mediums – photography, video, performance art – to create maps that are evocative, emotional, and politically charged.
5. GIS (Geographic Information Systems) & Open-Source Mapping: Utilizing GIS software and open-source platforms like OpenStreetMap to create and share maps that are accessible and editable.
6. Oral Histories & Storytelling: Integrating personal narratives and oral histories into the mapping process,adding layers of meaning and context.

Case Study: Mapping Tunnel Networks as Lines of Flight

The extensive network of tunnels beneath Gaza is a prime example of schizocartographic space. Often portrayed solely as instruments of warfare,tunnels also function as:

Lifelines for Smuggling: Providing access to essential goods and supplies circumventing the blockade.

Routes for Movement: Allowing Palestinians to bypass checkpoints and maintain some degree of freedom of movement.

Spaces of Resistance: Serving as strategic locations for resisting Israeli incursions.

Mapping these tunnels isn’t about revealing their precise locations (which is often unachievable and possibly perilous), but about understanding them as lines of flight – pathways that disrupt the imposed order and create choice possibilities. This requires a shift in viewpoint, viewing the tunnels not as aberrations, but as a rational response to an irrational situation. The Gaza blockade directly contributes to the necessity of these tunnels.

The Role of Technology and Citizen Journalism

The proliferation of smartphones and social media has empowered Gazan citizens to become cartographers themselves. Citizen journalists document events on the ground, share information about the impact of the conflict, and create their own maps of resistance. This has been particularly evident during periods of intense conflict, such as the 2021 and 2023 escalations. Platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram have become vital tools for:

Real-time Reporting: Providing immediate updates on events as they unfold.

Documenting Destruction: Sharing images and videos of damaged infrastructure and civilian casualties.

Circumventing Censorship: Bypassing traditional media outlets and reaching a global audience directly.

* Crowdsourcing Information: Collecting and verifying