Patches of (Counter)Overlookings: Fragmented Narratives,Childhood Gaze and the Art of Noticing in an Overlooked World

Abstract

In this visual piece, I explore the concept of ‘overlookedness’ through fragmented narratives and imagery, guided by the experiences of Jose, a 12-year-old boy from the slum neighbourhood of Bundok Francisco Homes in the city of San Jose del Monte, Philippines. Through a series of mini stories and corresponding visuals, I capture Jose’s world of childhood play, friendship and cultural intersections. Often overlooked in broader urban discourses, these narratives reveal how the children of Bundok navigate their environment through selective attention, focusing on the elements that matter most to them while effortlessly overlooking the rest. The concept of ‘patchy (counter)Overlookings’ emerges from the images—an idea that, to capture a moment or a narrative, something else must be overlooked. As Jose weaves together stories, the accompanying images reflect his fragmented, yet meaningful, understanding of his world. These visual elements guide the reader through Bundok’s intimate spaces, creating a textured narrative that highlights the resourcefulness and creativity of the children in these overlooked spaces. The act of (counter)overlooking thus becomes a way of reclaiming agency over one’s narrative, creating a space where narratives are deliberately incomplete, offering both resistance to and participation in the process of storytelling in overlooked spaces.