Stephanie Syjuco's 'The Unruly Archive' Interrogates Colonial Photographic Records
In her book 'The Unruly Archive,' Stephanie Syjuco critiques the neglect of Filipino history within U.S. archives. The Oakland-based artist, originally from Manila, initiated this project in 2019, centering on photographs from the Philippine Village showcased at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, where 1,200 Filipinos were exhibited. Her series 'Block Out the Sun' (2019) obscures images to redirect attention to the audience. Published by Radius Books for $65 (£51), the book spans over 300 pages, featuring unevenly cut pages and low-resolution visuals. Contributions from artists such as Wendy Red Star and Minne Atairu explore responses to archival practices. Syjuco perceives archives as spaces of power and violence, urging a progressive approach to them.
Key facts
- Stephanie Syjuco is a Manila-born, Oakland-based artist
- The book 'The Unruly Archive' was published by Radius Books for $65/£51
- Syjuco's research began in 2019 at the Missouri Historical Society and St. Louis Public Library
- The work scrutinizes photographs from the Philippine Village at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair
- The Philippine Village displayed 1,200 Filipinos in a racist spectacle
- Syjuco's series 'Block Out the Sun' (2019) obscures images with her hands
- The book includes contributions from artists Wendy Red Star, Minne Atairu, L. J. Roberts, and Gelare Khoshgozaran
- Syjuco describes her approach as a type of forensics
Entities
Artists
- Stephanie Syjuco
- Wendy Red Star
- Minne Atairu
- L. J. Roberts
- Gelare Khoshgozaran
Institutions
- Missouri Historical Society
- St. Louis Public Library
- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
- New York Public Library
- Radius Books
Locations
- Manila
- Oakland
- United States
- St. Louis
- Missouri
- Washington, DC
- Philippines