Last year in September, renowned Haida artist and activist Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas unveiled an eight-square-meter mural featuring watercolor and ink drawings at the Humboldt Forum in Berlin. The mural was commissioned by the Humboldt Forum in 2021 for the opening of the east wing of its Ethnological Museum. Originally from British Columbia and based in Vancouver, Yahgulanaas is known for his hybrid Haida manga artwork and graphic novels.

The mural, titled JAJ, tells the story of Norwegian fisherman and ethnologist Johan Adrian Jacobsen, who collected artifacts from the Pacific Northwest on behalf of the Royal Museum of Ethnology in Berlin in the 1880s. Yahgulanaas' mural, of which he says it might be the largest of its kind in the world, aims to counter the idea of monumentality and encourage viewers to find their own meaning in the work.

Yahgulanaas' art invites the viewer to reflect on the role that art can play in promoting better understanding and connection between people.

We are delighted to announce that a full-scale, printed version of this remarkable mural is on display at Gallery Jones in Vancouver from May 12 until May 24!

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​​​​​​​In addition, on May 19, Michael's book titled “JAJ: a Haida Manga” will be launched, providing the captivating story behind the creation of the mural. The book launch will be held at the Roundhouse during the Vancouver Comic Arts Festival on May 19 at 7pm. Michael will be in conversation with Dr. Nicola Levell, author of “Mischief Making: Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas, Art, and the Seriousness of Play”.

Date: May 12 - May 24, 2023
Location: Gallery Jones Fine Arts Ltd | 258 E 1st Ave #1 | Vancouver, BC V5T 1A6
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