Date & Time

Date: Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Time: 3.00 PM – 8.00 PM

Location: Roundhouse Community Centre

This is a FREE public event.

Note: Starting at Roundhouse at 3:00 PM ending at Stanley Park at 8:00 PM

This project was made possible through the partnership between the Vancouver Biennale and the Vancouver Park Board, Arts, Culture and Environment Department

Inspired by the 2014-2016 Vancouver Biennale’s theme, “Open Borders / Crossroads Vancouver,” and by Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, Indian artist Sajan Mani will engage the public through his street performance Citizen Ship Burn It Down!

Sajan will walk from the Roundhouse Community Centre along the sea wall to Stanley Park.  He will wear a black dress and mask covered with black paper boats, handmade by the artist as well as local community members.  As night falls, the piece will end as Sajan lays down on a rock in the ocean, an offering to the water.

The public, including Roundhouse children’s groups, have participated in the construction of the 376 boats. These paper vessels reference the Komagata Maru,  a Japanese steamship that sailed from China to Vancouver in 1914.  The boat was turned away, forcing 340 Sikhs, 24 Muslims and 12 Hindus to return to India.  Sajan’s revolutionary performance will reflect upon the exclusion laws of the early 20th century designed to keep out immigrants of Asian origin.

This is a FREE public event.

Follow Us, Tag Us or Use Our Hashtag
#VanBiennale
twitter.com/Van_Biennale
facebook.com/VancouverBiennale
instagram.com/Van_Biennale

Event Sponsors

Vancouver Park BoardRoundhouse Community CentreFunded by the Government of Canada