FROM THE TACLA EDITORS

Bodies of Knowledge began as an idea in 2019 to critically activate archival documentation of work by Asian Canadian artists. As we got ready to begin with funding support from the OAC, COVID-19 lockdowns began and changed the contexts in which we all lived, worked and built relations.

These changes altered this project’s trajectory, speed and approach. In the light of grief, loss, instability, insecurity, anger, frustration, isolation, and many other complex experiences unfolding and overlapping in unprecedented ways, we have returned to this project again and again with a slow and gentle pace. There are 12 artists featured in this issue, paired with 12 writers who have produced critical responses.

What hasn’t changed is our hope to highlight and centre the work of Asian artists from over the years, and invite fresh and thoughtful perspectives from community members and peers. We hope this project gives the art the attention and care it deserves, and also affirms the value and strength of critical responses from writers who are embedded and in relation with this work and its makers.

Some Notes:

• Besides some general formatting that we’ve tried to keep consistent, writing quirks and formatting preferences have been kept to what the writers used in their original drafts.
• There may still be missing elements in this publication. This is the impact of COVID on this project and as documentation rolls in, we will update the page.