The End of A Line

2024 | The Rooms, St John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador

Curator: Tak Pham

Curatorial Statement

K’jipuktuk (Halifax)-based artist Jenny Yujia Shi has consistently drawn inspiration from her migration experience to Canada, a theme that deeply influences her artistic practice. Similar to many young foreign individuals seeking opportunities beyond their home country, Shi initially arrived as an international student. From the moment she passed through the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) processing center at [location] airport, her Canadian living experience became subject to various conditions, permissions, and restrictions. These parameters regulate her movements and activities within the country, shaping the opportunities she can access to establish a livelihood.

The End of a Line is an autobiographical exhibition. Showcasing bodies of work spanning the last decade, it offers a poignant glimpse into Shi’s migration experience, culminating in her successful attainment of Canadian citizenship earlier this year. Moreover, the exhibition embodies Shi's coming to terms with her new home country and ongoing efforts to position herself—as a newcomer—within Canada’s complex and contested history.

In Shi’s own words, “To go through this process, I had no choice but to break apart into a set of numbers and data, and to reassemble myself to best conform to what is considered valuable by the Canadian government. As I move forward, I feel not relief, but a sense of responsibility to challenge the immigration system, its promise of safety and opportunity, its relationship with labour exploitation, and its continued use to reinforce the systemic oppression of many peoples in so-called Canada.”