Jalal Toufic (Lebanese, b. 1962) is a thinker, writer and artist. He was born in 1962 in Beirut or Baghdad and died before dying in 1989 in Evanston, Illinois. He is a professor of film studies at the American University in Cairo. He has made essay films and conceptual films and is the author of What Was I Thinking? (e-flux journal, Sternberg Press, 2017); The Dancer’s Two Bodies (Sharjah Art Foundation, 2015); Forthcoming (2nd ed., e-flux journal, Sternberg Press, 2014); and What Were You Thinking? (Berliner Künstlerprogramm/DAAD, 2011). His work has been included in Sharjah Biennials 6, 10, and 11; 9th Shanghai Biennale; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; Centre Pompidou, Paris; MoMA PS1, Brooklyn; and MAXXI, Rome. He was a guest of the Artists-in-Berlin Program of the DAAD in 2011, and Director of the School of Visual Arts at the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts, Alba 2015-2018.
In conjunction with Aporia (Notes to a Medium) join us for two outdoor screenings of exhibiting artist Jalal Toufic’s film Variations on Guilt and Innocence in 39 Steps (2013). Through a reworking of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 film The 39 Steps, Toufic questions the possibilities that will never occur hidden in unconscious gestures in the film. Charting these gestures as capable of occurring across and beyond a moment, he explores the multiplicity of possible variations in time and action, highlighting a visual manifestation of doubt and uncertainty.
This screening will take place on the Belkin’s Outdoor Screen or you can view it here:
For a deeper discussion of his film, read Jalal Toufic’s “How Not to Be Subject to Variations on Guilt and Innocence” in his book What Was I Thinking? (Berlin: e-flux journal-Sternberg Press, 2017), pages 128–132.
Jalal Toufic (Lebanese, b. 1962) is a thinker, writer and artist. He was born in 1962 in Beirut or Baghdad and died before dying in 1989 in Evanston, Illinois. He is a professor of film studies at the American University in Cairo. He has made essay films and conceptual films and is the author of What Was I Thinking? (e-flux journal, Sternberg Press, 2017); The Dancer’s Two Bodies (Sharjah Art Foundation, 2015); Forthcoming (2nd ed., e-flux journal, Sternberg Press, 2014); and What Were You Thinking? (Berliner Künstlerprogramm/DAAD, 2011). His work has been included in Sharjah Biennials 6, 10, and 11; 9th Shanghai Biennale; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; Centre Pompidou, Paris; MoMA PS1, Brooklyn; and MAXXI, Rome. He was a guest of the Artists-in-Berlin Program of the DAAD in 2011, and Director of the School of Visual Arts at the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts, Alba 2015-2018.
Aporia (Notes to a Medium) considers how history, mythology and wishful thinking entwine across media and through mediums. Artists include Colleen Brown, Azza El Siddique, Dani Gal, Katie Kozak and Lucien Durey, Mark Lewis, Jenine Marsh, Jalal Toufic and Elizabeth Zvonar.
[more]As part of the exhibition Aporia (Notes to a Medium), the Belkin's Outdoor Screen will show Mark Lewis's From Third Beach 1 (2010) daily from 9 am to 9 pm.
[more]This reading room offers resources relating to the themes and artists present in the exhibition Aporia (Notes to a Medium).
[more]Sound Plots is an online audio series that highlights meaningful dialogues and interventions around exhibitions and programming at the Belkin. This series focuses on themes from the exhibition Aporia (Notes to a Medium) that consider doubt and its role as an important artistic and critical tool. Through conversations, talks and tours that are re-situated in an online space, Sound Plots acts as an archive, resource and invitation for all.
[more]As part of the exhibition Aporia (Notes to a Medium), exhibiting artists Colleen Brown and Elizabeth Zvonar are in conversation with artist and writer Jamie Hilder.
[more]Join artists Azza El Siddique and Jenine Marsh for a conversation about their practices and works in the current exhibition Aporia (Notes to a Medium).
[more]As part of the exhibition, Aporia (Notes to a Medium) join us for an online talk with exhibiting artists Katie Kozak and Lucien Durey.
[more]Elizabeth Zvonar's Gattamelata (2020) is part of the exhibition Aporia (Notes to a Medium) at the Belkin, which considers how history, mythology and wishful thinking entwine across media and through mediums; more of Elizabeth Zvonar's work can be seen here.
[more]Join us for a concert by the UBC Contemporary Players in a program that celebrates the Belkin’s current exhibition Aporia (Notes to a Medium). Directed by Paolo Bortolussi and coach Joanne S. Na, this UBC School of Music graduate and undergraduate student ensemble will breathe life into the gallery during an afternoon program.
[more]Join us for a talk by interdisciplinary artist Zach Blas, with a conversation to follow with Jayne Wilkinson.
[more]Please join us for this reading group in conjunction with Aporia (Notes to a Medium). The selected texts by Hito Steyerl and Zach Blas contend with ideas of doubt in technology - particularly in AI - and its ever-evolving interventions in our lives as tools of censorship and surveillance.
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