Emily Jacir Where We Come From

2001-03

Installation

Medium: Chromogenic print and laser print on mounted board

Emily Jacir is a Palestinian artist that focuses on transformation, questions of translations, resistance and silenced historical narratives. In her piece Where We Come From Jacir, Jacir asked more than 30 Palestinians living in Palestine and to those exiled in Lebanon, Syria, Europe, and America, rich and poor alike living both abroad and within the occupied territories “If I could do anything for you, anywhere in Palestine, what would it be?” Then with the help of her American passport, Jacir set out to fulfill their wishes. She collected responses and carried out tasks in an extended performance of wish-fulfilment by proxy. She then documented herself fulfilling the requests for people who are prohibited entry into their homeland and/or restricted from movement within it.

Jancir took photographs depicting what she did for them are accompanied by a text in English and Arabic explaining what the request was and what restricted the person from performing it him or herself. Most limitations had to do with the person’s identification card and the physical borders they could not cross, while others had psychological barriers, which were just as restricting. Requests ranged from the everyday to more drawn out visits.