‘Citizen Ship Burn It Down!’

Durational Performance, 6 hours, Vancouver, Canada, Vancouver Biennale 2014 

Inspired by the 2014-2016 Vancouver Biennale’s theme “Open Borders / Crossroads Vancouver” and by Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, the artist engaged the public through his public performance.

On Wednesday, 17 September 2014 the artist walked five kilometres from the Roundhouse Community Centre along the sea wall to Stanley Park. The artist wore a black dress and mask covered with black paper boats, handmade by the artist as well as local community members. As night fell, Sajan’s performance ended as he laid down on a rock in the ocean, an offering to the water.

 The public, including Roundhouse childrens groups, participated in the construction of the 376 boats. These paper vessels referenced the KomagataMaru, 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 reflected upon the exclusion laws of the early 20th century designed to keep out immigrants of Asian origin. This work was done as a participatory project.