Tuesday, Jul 15, 2008

3-18-08 Native Humor and the Uses of Irony in Decolonization: Interview with James Luna

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J. Kehaulani Kauanui interviews installation and performance artist, James Luna (Luiseno, La Jolla band of Mission Indians). His work speaks to the fraught nature of indigenous cultural politics as his art engages histories of colonialism, representation, and decolonization through the use of irony and humor. Luna was selected by the National Museum of the American Indian for the 2005 Venice Biennale for his installation-exhibit, "Emendatio," a project that collapses time between 1834 and 2005, and the space between Italy and California. With its homage to Pablo Tac (a Luiseno Indian) who came to Rome from the San Luis Rey mission to study for the priesthood in 1834, "Emendatio" claims Venice as part of American Indian history. "Emendatio" is currently on exhibit at the George Gustav-Heye Center in New York City, which is part of the National Museum of the American Indian through April 20, 2008. Listen in to this conversation about Luna's artistic trajectory, his process, the interventions his work intends, and what we can anticipate in the future.

Posted by Indigenous Politics at 12:46 PM |   

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