Jana Sasaki untitled, 2010 digital C-print
This body of work by Jana Sasaki explores experiences and memories of ‘mixed’ cultural upbringing in Canada. It reflects upon the experience of being half Japanese and investigates how people of mixed cultural heritage view themselves and are viewed by others, an experience relevant to more and more Canadians.
In particular, Sasaki is interested in words such as hapa and hafu that are increasingly used to define mixed cultures. The word hafu is used in Japanese to refer to somebody who is ethnically half Japanese. The label emerged in the 1970s in Japan and is now the most commonly used label and preferred term of self-definition. The word hafu comes from the English word ’half,’ indicating half foreign-ness. Hapa is slang for a person of mixed ethnic heritage with partial roots in Asian and/or Pacific Islander ancestry.
The Art Auction Exhibition is a two week preview of original works of art and other items on offer at this year’s art auction. Donated works by local, regional and national artists are featured along with fabulous products and experiences donated by business in British Columbia and beyond. This display celebrates and promotes the work of many artists living and working in the Kamloops region. Continuing this year, pre-bids are accepted during the preview exhibition, with the highest pre-bid amounts starting the bidding on auction night, Saturday, October 2 (see Events and Programs for details).
Ken Lum There’s No Place Like Home, 2000 digital print on paper, 3/100 Kamloops Art Gallery Collection 2000-101
The Construction Sites: Identity and Place exhibition presents works by contemporary artists who investigate and reflect on the social construction of identity and the production of social space. Made over the past several decades, the works in the exhibition respond to developments in feminist, gender, queer and postcolonial theories. The exhibition concept takes a cue from Henri Lefebvre’s thinking about alienation and modernity, the nature of society, and social revolution as a revolution in everyday life. In his writing Lefebrve speaks about producing one’s life as one would a work. Might we likewise produce our own identity? Or is identity determined by society? And, with the dramatic mobility of information, goods and people aimed for by corporate globalization strategies, what is the relationship between our identity and the places we inhabit?
Sight, Reconstructed, a forum for discussion of such questions, takes place Thursday, October 21 at the Gallery.
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