Writings
Perepatetic in the Pandemic
Christa Donner, James Jack, Karin Oen and Andrew S Yang
2022
Let’s go on a walk, maybe a tangent, together. … As we returned to the transcript of the conversation over and over, it began to expand and contract in unpredictable areas; come alive and grow while we reflected on travel, tides, teaching, and more, finding creative resonances together.
American Art in Asia
James Jack
2022
What methods do my artworks suggest for understanding the world? Artistic systems for reflecting on moments outside of now to better understand the contradictions of this moment. We all stand on moving ground, the community is in motion, opinions changing one at a time in relation to each other.
What methods do my artworks suggest for understanding the world? Artistic systems for reflecting on moments outside of now to better understand the contradictions of this moment. We all stand on moving ground, the community is in motion, opinions changing one at a time in relation to each other.
Dirt Stories: Củ Chi & Temasek
James Jack
2021
James Jack’s work explores the richness of dirt through stories rooted in our immediate surroundings that resist settler narratives of land. While respectfully touching sensitive sites of trauma and transition encountered in Vietnam and Singapore, voices from the past emerge. As these temporary dirt windows open and their stories unfold, an opportunity for healing opens as well.
James Jack’s work explores the richness of dirt through stories rooted in our immediate surroundings that resist settler narratives of land. While respectfully touching sensitive sites of trauma and transition encountered in Vietnam and Singapore, voices from the past emerge. As these temporary dirt windows open and their stories unfold, an opportunity for healing opens as well.
A Sea-centric SEA
James Jack
2019
How Are Artists Grasping Socially Engaged Art Now? Socially Engaged Art Round-Talk Documentation book by Art & Society Research Center Tokyo.
How Are Artists Grasping Socially Engaged Art Now? Socially Engaged Art Round-Talk Documentation book by Art & Society Research Center Tokyo.
“Is Sharing Possible? An Artist’s Reflection on Collectivity”
James Jack
2018
A book chapter reflecting on the artistic process of engaging with communities in cooperative ways considering situations where sharing is possible and why. The artist offers practical methods for meaningful collaboration with diverse communities including deep listening, adjusting to the pace of others and encouraging space for meaningful interaction.
A book chapter reflecting on the artistic process of engaging with communities in cooperative ways considering situations where sharing is possible and why. The artist offers practical methods for meaningful collaboration with diverse communities including deep listening, adjusting to the pace of others and encouraging space for meaningful interaction.
Spirits of Tsureshima: Creative Storytelling with Islanders
James Jack
2018
This article focuses on spirits residing in the sea in Okinawa seen from the viewpoint of artists along with island residents. Together with islanders James Jack created the artwork Sea Birth composed with stories of interconnection between islands.
This article focuses on spirits residing in the sea in Okinawa seen from the viewpoint of artists along with island residents. Together with islanders James Jack created the artwork Sea Birth composed with stories of interconnection between islands.
Art from “What is Already There” on Islands in the Seto Inland Sea
James Jack
2018
Placing art on islands far from Tokyo, that cannot be consumed, only experienced, and incorporating elements of the past rather than just present-focused production and sales, disrupts the imposed commercialized order on art production and forms instead disorderly spaces for art. James Jack examines the social impact of two art sites where disorderly elements of the past are collaged with contemporary realities.
Placing art on islands far from Tokyo, that cannot be consumed, only experienced, and incorporating elements of the past rather than just present-focused production and sales, disrupts the imposed commercialized order on art production and forms instead disorderly spaces for art. James Jack examines the social impact of two art sites where disorderly elements of the past are collaged with contemporary realities.
The Sea We See
James Jack with Harmony
2017
If each one of us is an island, what would our view of the sea look like? This 112 page publication by artistic director James Jack, editor poet Sho Sugita and curator Riko Okuyama consists of poems, drawings, photographs and artist memos in a bilingual Japanese-English format.
If each one of us is an island, what would our view of the sea look like? This 112 page publication by artistic director James Jack, editor poet Sho Sugita and curator Riko Okuyama consists of poems, drawings, photographs and artist memos in a bilingual Japanese-English format.
Stories Of Khayalan Island
James Jack
2016
One poem “Reparative Island” selected from a collection of poems part of artist research project reviving stories of an island rumoured to have disappeared near Singapore.
One poem “Reparative Island” selected from a collection of poems part of artist research project reviving stories of an island rumoured to have disappeared near Singapore.
Sunset House: The House as Language of Being
James Jack
2016
Introductory essay by James Jack along with roundtable discussion including Shiniichi Anzai, Ryosuke Kondo, Yoichi Kawata and James Jack held at Sunset House during Setouchi International Art Festival.
Introductory essay by James Jack along with roundtable discussion including Shiniichi Anzai, Ryosuke Kondo, Yoichi Kawata and James Jack held at Sunset House during Setouchi International Art Festival.
Migration of a Cycad
James Jack
2015
A cycad palm tree is fabled to have been carried by boat from the Ryūkyū Kingdom to Takamatsu by members of the Satsuma Domain as a gift in the 18th century which have now grown into an established grove of trees. A pine tree sapling gifted from a local auntie was carried in reverse from Takamatsu to the island of Tokunoshima by the artist on a container ship, then presented as a gift to a relative subsequently added to his domestic garden of potted cycad palm trees.
A cycad palm tree is fabled to have been carried by boat from the Ryūkyū Kingdom to Takamatsu by members of the Satsuma Domain as a gift in the 18th century which have now grown into an established grove of trees. A pine tree sapling gifted from a local auntie was carried in reverse from Takamatsu to the island of Tokunoshima by the artist on a container ship, then presented as a gift to a relative subsequently added to his domestic garden of potted cycad palm trees.
Khayalan Island
James Jack
2014
Khayalan Island is rumored to have disappeared in the early 19th century. For this publication, a selection of poems were selected as part of the artist’s process of gathering stories, collecting artifacts and conducting a search to rediscover this island in the complicated realities of the harbor today.
Encountering Photographs With Question Marks By Anzaï Shigeo
James Jack
2013
Photographic images have been instrumental in the origins, development and remembrance of most contemporary art movements. James Jack investigates visual and discursive records in Japan with an emphasis on Anzaï Shigeo’s early engagement with artists and their installations.
Photographic images have been instrumental in the origins, development and remembrance of most contemporary art movements. James Jack investigates visual and discursive records in Japan with an emphasis on Anzaï Shigeo’s early engagement with artists and their installations.
Play with Nature
Played by Nature
James Jack
2013
This exhibition catalog by artist and curator James Jack provides a creative approach to trauma in social and ecological environments inspired by artist Takayama Noboru’s reflection on the complicated relationship between society and nature viewed through the metaphor of playing with, and being played by nature.
This exhibition catalog by artist and curator James Jack provides a creative approach to trauma in social and ecological environments inspired by artist Takayama Noboru’s reflection on the complicated relationship between society and nature viewed through the metaphor of playing with, and being played by nature.