Stories of Resistance

Stories of Resistance examines the myriad ways in which resistance takes form across the world. Through the perspectives of an international array of artists working across a full range of media, the exhibition sheds light on the situations from which acts of resistance emerge. Featuring a diverse body of work, the exhibition nonetheless identifies several themes and motifs that recur across history, cultures, and regions. Resistance may be found in the rewriting of history, exposing or filling in the blatant absences left out of the dominant narrative. Resistance emerges from within governmental, corporate, or institutional structures and systems of power. Resistance takes shape in labor movements and in actions to protect water, land, and other natural resources. Migration, movement, and exile-most often depicted as acts of desperation-are here shown as acts of agency in the face of persecution, oppression, and inequality.To encompass the epic range of human resistance worldwide, the exhibition activates the entire museum space, inside and outside, with video, performance, photography, drawing, sculpture, and installation. Participating artists include Bani Abidi, Candice Lin, Jen Liu, Guadalupe Maravilla, Tuan Andrew Nguyen, and Dread Scott, with additional artists to be announced, many of whom make their U.S. debut at CAM. A publication expanding on resistance as multidisciplinary action will coincide with the exhibition. The publication will feature a curatorial essay by Wassan Al-Khudhairi; commissioned essays and reprints of essays will provide multiple perspectives on the topic of resistance; artist sections with artwork plates and descriptions; installation photographs from the exhibition; and biographies on the artists.