press release

The Whitechapel Gallery presents the first UK survey of artist Emily Jacir this autumn. Known for her poignant works of art that are as poetic as they are political and biographical, Jacir explores histories of migration, resistance and exchange.

This exhibition focuses on the artist's dialogue with Europe, Italy and the Mediterranean in particular and brings together almost two decades of sculpture, film, drawings, large-scale installations and photography.

Highlights include the UK premiere of Material for a film (2004–), winner of a Golden Lion at the 2007 Venice Biennale and the showing of Jacir's short film Lydda Airport (2009).

"Jacir's deft extrapolation of the issues of identity from the specifics of experience, like her renewal and extension of what might be called classic Conceptual Art, is enormously impressive." –Roberta Smith, The New York Times

A fully-illustrated catalogue accompanying the exhibition is now available in the Whitechapel Gallery Bookshop and online. Emily Jacir: Europa features original essays by Jean Fisher, Lorenzo Fusi, Omar Kholeif, Nikos Papastergiadis and Graziella Parati, as well as an excerpt from Franco Cassano chosen by the artist.