Photo-essay: Dissent and struggle are persistent themes of images adorning walls across East Timor

Chris Parkinson

The post-independence period has seen East Timor oscillate between stability and conflict. Graffiti, an uncensored medium accessible to all, reflects this instability. Throughout the country, graffiti images draw upon themes of resistance and struggle that emerged during the Indonesian occupation. Today these images reflect the contemporary struggles facing the people of independent East Timor.

The following photos were taken between 2004 and 2008. They are a small representation of graffiti that can be found across the thirteen districts of East Timor. The supporting text is based on what I have been told about the images by various people. It is important to remember that every viewer of graffiti bring his or her own experiences and values to interpreting the images. This means that there could be diverse and alternative explanations for these images.

Blok I

The Indonesian system of ‘blocking’, where neighbourhoods are named and zoned using an alphabetical lettering system, is still used in East Timor. This burnt and destroyed building on the busy Audian road has a ghostly feel to it. The continuing use of the terminology of blocking is a reminder of how local people still use a foreign and borrowed system to articulate ownership of area.

Lingkaran Setan

This piece used to be on a corner block in Audian, a suburb of Dili. It was, however, recently removed to make way for a new housing development. The text, in Indonesian, means ‘Vicious Circle,’ and reflects how some East Timorese see themselves trapped by the cyclical nature of violence.