Jamelie Hassan
Could we ever know each other...?, recycled neon mounted onto colour photograph, 2014
Jamelie Hassan, Could we ever know each other...? , recycled neon mounted onto colour photograph, 2014
This mixed media work, titled, Could we ever know each other...? presents aspects of my work that reflect on issues related to cultural values, the military and Canada’s role in international conflicts, issues that I have previously examined in my work. Inspired by a quote from Canadian writer Gabrielle Roy (1909–1983), the full quotation was on the former Canadian $20 and reads, "Could we ever know each other in the slightest without the arts?"
“Nous connaîtrons-nous seulement un peu nous-mêmes, sans les arts?
This quote, combined with the image of a sculpture by Haida artist Bill Reid (1920–1998), also known as Iljuwas, on the former $20 bill, made a strong statement regarding the role of culture in Canada and a celebration of Indigenous values. This $20 bill was taken out of circulation and has been replaced by a $20 bill that presents images that instead celebrate the role of Canada’s military history. From the naming of highways to war museums and monuments and to the new Canadian dollar bill, Canadians are witnessing an increasing valorization of the military in our country and the security apparatuses that are increasingly present in our everyday lives.
Jamelie Hassan is an artist, curator, writer and activist based in London, Ontario. Her work is intensely driven by an engagement in politics and cultures, and was recently presented in “Light: A Visionary Perspective,” an international group exhibition celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Aga Khan Museum, Toronto. Her works are included in public collections in Canada and internationally. Recipient of numerous awards, she was awarded the Governor General's Award in Visual and Media Arts in 2001 and the Chalmers Art Fellowship. She is co-editor with Ron Benner of the anthology An Alternative Cultural History of London, Ontario: Art & Activism, published by the Embassy Cultural House, London, Ontario, 2024. Jamelie Hassan and Ron Benner are also the co-founders of the Embassy Cultural House, a not-for-profit artist collective based in London, Ontario.
