Diasporasie

 

November 4 – 6

 

In collaboration with : La Centrale Powerhouse, South Asian Visual Art Center (SAVAC) and Montréal Arts Interculturels (MAI)

 

Listen to the artist talk (audio)

 

Diasporasie brings together artists, theoreticians, and militants whose work raises and develops questions related to North-East and South Asian diasporas.  Video projections, performance, workshop, and discussion will address issues surrounding the complex relations between culture, ethnicity, political and geographic boundaries:  how they become deployed in social and political spheres, the intimate ways they resonate when we attempt to articulate notions of identity, and how interpersonal relations are structured by them.

 

Diasporasie is intended to be a participatory forum for exchanges and reflections of critical importance within the current political climate.  Indeed, it seems that the proliferation of cultural exchanges, rather than increasing the porosity of boundaries (intimate, social or national…) is used by many to justify a simplification of concepts of identity that is finding support amongst the population. This leads to the appalling radicalization of interpersonal differences and an environment of fear.

 

A glance on the programme

 

 

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 4

6.30pm : door opens
7.30pm : Video screening : Monitor 6 : New South Asian Short Film and Video
Curator :Richard Fung

At articule

 

Barber of Bangalore, Roger Sinha, Canada, 2008, 6 min 30 s
The Art of Archery in East London, Khaldoon Ahmed, Royaume-Uni, 2008, 7 min
A Story of Nida Known as Pasha Ali, Athar Ahmed, Pakistan, 2008, 7 min 30 s
Tapestry, Sharlene Bamboat, Canada, 2009, 6 min 30 s
Love Song, Asma Mundrawala, Pakistan, 2008, 1 min
There is a spider living between us, Tejal Shah, Inde, 2008, 6 min
The Importance of Being Earnest, Divya Mehra, Canada, 2008, 3 min
Forgive, Forget Not!, Pranay Limbu, Népal, 2008, 20 min
Partition, Holly Rodricks, États-Unis, 2009, 8 min
Let’s Drink, Ashim Halder Sagor, Bangladesh, 2008, 1 min

 

Monitor 6: New South Asian Short Film and Video is an experimental short film and video screening program that showcases work by and/or about South Asians from Canada and around the world. Monitor 6 presents poetic, political and humorous short films and videos that explore the performativity of gender while drawing on personal narratives, communal rituals and critiques of mass culture.

 

 

 

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 5

1 - 4pm : workshop: PhotoVoice with Edward Ou Jin Lee

At the MAI's cafe

 

Photovoice is an innovative, community-based and visual participatory research methodology. Its purpose is to bring together queer people of colour through photography and critical dialogue. This process allows for the reflection and sharing of everyday realities in order to produce knowledge about personal and community strengths and concerns while engaging in dialogue and advocacy with policy makers and service providers. It is a creative pathway that draws a bridge between producing knowledge, informing policy, building community and engaging in artistic practices.

 

6pm: Video screening : DiasporAsie projection Vidéo/Film : Montréal
Curator : Mihee-Nathalie Lemoine

At La Centrale Galerie Powerhouse

 

My Niagara, Helen Lee, Canada, 1992, 40 min
A Video, Jihee Min, Canada, 2005, 1 min 36 s
Transfer point, Jenny Lin, Canada, 2007, 5 min 23 s
Disadoption, Mihee-Nathalie Lemoine, Canada, 2008, 2 min
A Few Colourful Phrases, Cheryl Sim, Canada, 1995, 12 min 45 s
P2P/Peer to Painting, Shié Kasai, Canada, 2009, 15 min
Deux monologues, Risa Hatayama, Canada, 2008, 10 min
I Scream Minjihee, Jihee Min, Canada, 2011, 3 min 59 s
Qu’est-ce que ça veut dire ?, Mihee-Nathalie Lemoine, Canada, 2010, 1 min 40 s

 

This programme explores the identity, gender, art, and psyché of those who chose to be outside (of their birthplace, of where they were raised, of their biological characteristics…)

 

 

8pm : Panel discussion
Moderator : Alice Ming Wai Jim. With Richard Fung, Ook Chung,  Jihee Min, Mihee-Nathalie Lemoine, Sharlene Bamboat

 

 

 

SUNDAY NOVEMBER

7pm : Performance
Irene Chan, An ABC (American Born Chinese) Rediscovers Appearance, 60 min., 2010

at articule

 

 

With this performance, the artist explores wether old stereotypes affect how others see her today and wether growing up with an American popular media has affected how she sees herself with other Asians.  Come travel back and forth in time to revisit the impact of Asian stereotypes in American history and films.

 

8.30pm: Reception

 

 

image : Elisha Lim