b. 1989, Manila, Philippines

Cian Dayrit’s interdisciplinary practice explores colonialism, ethnography, and mythology. His cartographic works, often materialized through embroidery and collages, examine how empires scored out the maps of the modern world, inviting us to reconsider alternative territories as a subversive act against colonial history.

Dayrit’s maps and textiles function as counter-cartographies, exposing how geography has been systematically used as a tool of control. By subverting traditional map-making techniques, he reimagines landscapes from the perspective of those often excluded from conventional narratives—Indigenous groups, farmers, and working-class communities. His practice is deeply rooted in activism, frequently collaborating with grassroots and local organizations to explore themes of displacement and resistance. While informed by the experience of colonialism from the perspective of the Philippines, Dayrit’s work nonetheless defies being tied to a specific position or location. Instead, his research cross over geopolitical and supranational bearings. By exposing the inner workings of imperial power, Dayrit invites us to reconsider how we spatially perceive and interpret the world. 

Cian Dayrit’s work has been exhibited in international biennials, including the Sidney Biennial, Gwangju Biennale; Berlin Biennale, Berlin; Bangkok Biennale, Kathmandu Triennale, New Museum Triennial, New York; and Göteborg Biennial. Dayrit has also participated in exhibitions at Kunstverein Hamburg; Blaffer Art Museum, Houston; Museo Reina Sofía and CentroCentro in Madrid; Talbot Rice Gallery, Edinburgh; ParaSite, Hong Kong; Hammer Museum, L.A.; and the Metropolitan Museum of Manila.