Emily Jacir : Where we come from ..
The works by Emily Jacir presented at this year’s Biennale in Istanbul are most
certainly amongst the most convincing within the theme of "Poetic Justice". As
stated in various announcements, Dan Cameron’s concern with this concept was a
field of creative activity, filled with the interplay of apparently quite
opposed forces such as the aesthetic qualities of poetry and the strive for
justice.
In the Tophane-i Amire cultural centre, a canon foundry and barracks building
constructed in 1451, Emily Jacir shows her installation "Where we come from"; it
consists of photos, related texts, and a DVD projection.
Starting point of the piece and of the action it is based on, is following
question, addressed to Palestinians living in exile: "If I could do anything for
you, anywhere in Palestine, what would it be?" The artist exploited the liberty
of movement (still not void of danger) provided by her passport issued in the
United States to fulfill the wishes she received, as far as this was in her
hands.
Here are some examples:
"Go to Haifa and play soccer with the first Palestinian boy you see on the
street."
"Drink the water in my parents' village."
"Go to Bayt Lahia and bring me a photo of my family, specially of my brother's
kids."
"Go to the Israeli post office in Jerusalem and pay my phone bill."
"Go to my mother's grave in Jerusalem on her birthday and place flowers and
pray."
"Do something on a normal day in Haifa, something I might do if I was living
there now."
In her installation, Emily Jacir documents the wishes and the fate or status of
the people, who expressed them and then what she did in order to fulfill each
wish. The artist has selected
12 concise examples for publication in this magazine.
source of Article: http://universes-in-universe.de/islam/eng/2003/04/jacir/index.html