WESTERN FRONT – Archives Access: Jayce Salloum

A close up of purple and white orchid with the subtitles What about Khalil, Fadl and Abdullah, in white text near the bottom.

Western Front is pleased to present Archives Access: Jayce Salloum, an evening of archival excerpts and discussion marking twenty years since Salloum’s 2004 solo exhibition and installation of video work was presented from his ongoing untitled (1999–) project.

Salloum’s work is nested within a troubling lineage—the first four tapes of untitled were in the group exhibition, The Lands Within Me: Expressions by Canadian Artists of Arab Origin at the Canadian Museum of Civilization (now Canadian Museum of History) in 2001. Postponed after the events of September 11, the exhibition proceeded following public pressure. Amid the anti-Arab sentiment, Salloum sparked controversy by his documentation of the conflicts in Lebanon, Palestine, and former Yugoslavia through the telling of experiences of displacement and political struggle as told by the subjects.

Salloum moved past the inflammatory reactions and rhetoric of those trying to censor his work, unwavering in his commitment to represent social and political realities with a historicity that extends beyond political agendas and news cycles. Yet these events offer a vantage point to revisit two decades later to reflect on the continued challenges of drawing out alternative and individual histories from monolithic narratives of dispossession, occupation, and violence.

Salloum will be joined in conversation with Western Front’s content writer and editor, Trey Le, to screen excerpts of the work and discuss the approaches employed in his filmmaking and artistic practice.

Curated by Trey Le.

Souha Bechara is seated and looking to the left. She has long dark hair that rests on her shoulders. She is wearing a grey sweater with a white collar and clip on microphone. The subtitles, because it repeats the history that we share, appear in white text near the bottom.

About the Artist

Jayce Salloum is a grandson of Syrian or Lebanese immigrants. He was born on Sylix (Okanagan) territory, and is currently based on the traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷey̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səíl̓wətaʔł Nations (Vancouver, Canada). Recognizing and acting on this is an everyday practice, but let’s face it, he could do a lot more. As if an itinerant geographer of conflicted territories, Salloum observes the world and creates images/texts to re-make meaning from. His projects are rooted in an intimate engagement with place, going only where he is invited or where there is an intrinsic affinity.

A close up of two koi fish from above with reflections in the water. The subtitles, I imagined that my house was speaking to me.., appear in white text near the bottom.

Accessibility

The Grand Luxe Hall is located on the second floor of Western Front, which is accessed by a flight of 26 stairs. While plans for a full building upgrade to facilitate access for wheelchair and scooter users are still underway, events in the Grand Luxe Hall are made available virtually via high-quality livestream (see link above). Further details about accessibility at Western Front can be found here.

Jayce Salloum, still from untitled part 3b: (as if) beauty never ends…, (2000). Courtesy of the artist.

Jayce Salloum, still from untitled part 3b: (as if) beauty never ends..., (2000). Courtesy of the artist.
Jayce Salloum, still from untitled part 1: everything and nothing, (1999). Courtesy of the artist.

Jayce Salloum, still from untitled part 1: everything and nothing, (1999). Courtesy of the artist.
Jayce Salloum, still from untitled part 3b: (as if) beauty never ends…, (2000). Courtesy of the artist.

Jayce Salloum, still from untitled part 3b: (as if) beauty never ends..., (2000). Courtesy of the artist.

Western Front is a non-profit
artist-run centre in Vancouver.

We acknowledge the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations as traditional owners of the land upon which Western Front stands.