James Jack
Residency period
3 February 2015 – 14 April 2015
About
James Jack’s artworks have been included in numerous group and solo exhibitions including: Water and Land- Niigata Art Festival (2015); Setouchi International Art Festival, Kagawa (2013); Busan Biennale Sea Art Festival (2013); Miniature Lanscape for O’ahu, Honolulu Museum of Art (2011) and the Echigo-Tsumari Triennial (2009). His writings are published in The Japan Times, ISSUE, Modern Art Asia, Art Asia Pacific as well as numerous gallery and museum catalogues. Jack recently completed a Ph.D. in art practice at Tokyo University of the Arts on the topic Art in Contingent Pacific Currents.
Focus
James Jack is concerned with rejuvenating fragile links that exist in a place, developing socially engaged artworks in connection with the people and land encountered there. At NTU CCA Singapore, he will work on the project Stories of Khayalan Island (2013- ) which commenced with rumours of an island that disappeared near Singapore. While in residence, he will search for evidence of Khayalan Island amidst the paradoxes of the rapidly changing harbour. Historical maps will be redrawn based on collective imaginations of space and sea vessels will be rebuilt to visit contingent islands at risk of vanishing. A search for this imaginary island in the social and ecological realities of today provides the basis for a book of stories as well as newly created artworks.
Public programmes
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Stories of Khayalan Island is an art project by James Jack which commenced with the rumour of an island that disappeared in the Singapore Harbour during the early 19th century. While in residence at NTU CCA Singapore, Jack’s search for Khayalan Island includes collective boat trips to nearby islands to look for its traces within the complexities of today.
This event will consist of voices from Khayalan Island based on the search in progress. The evening will be moderated by Seng Yu Jin (Senior Curator, National Gallery Singapore) and readers will include Steve Dixon (President, LASALLE College of the Arts), Chand Chandramohan (Artist-in-Residence, The Artists Village, Pulau Ubin) and artist James Jack.
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The artist invites participants to trace the outline of an island in their imagination. By drawing the borders of each coastline in time, islands that are at risk of being lost are reclaimed through imagination. This event will consist of voices from Khayalan Island based on the search in progress. The evening will be moderated by Seng Yu Jin (Senior Curator, National Gallery Singapore) and readers will include Steve Dixon (President, LASALLE College of the Arts), Chand Chandramohan (Artist-in-Residence, The Artists Village, Pulau Ubin) and artist James Jack.