Friday, June 17, 2016, 7–9pm
National Gallery Singapore
Auditorium, 1 St Andrew’s Road
Singapore 178957
Saturday, June 18, 9:30am–6pm
NTU CCA Singapore
Gillman Barracks
The Single Screen, Block 43 Malan Road
Singapore 109443
T +65 6460 0300
[email protected]
www.ntu.ccasingapore.org
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The NTU Centre for Contemporary Art Singapore (NTU CCA Singapore) presents “The Geopolitical and the Biophysical: a structured conversation on Art and Southeast Asia in context,” part II, a symposium addressing the multiple notions of “Southeast Asia” and the various issues surrounding its borders, territories, dilemmas and anxieties. SEA STATE by artist Charles Lim Yi Yong, commissioned for the Singapore Pavilion at the 56th Venice Biennale, explores the biophysical, political and psychic contours of Singapore and served as a point of departure for the symposium. Part I of the symposium took place in Venice, Italy during the opening days of the Biennale, and this second iteration will continue and deepen the discussions on the occasion of SEA STATE‘s presentation at NTU CCA Singapore.
Southeast Asia, as a geographical region and conceptual category, is a contested entity shaped by diverse cultures and communities. The possibilities and uncertainties in this region—such as anxieties surrounding national and regional identities—continue to pose unique social and political challenges. “The Geopolitical and the Biophysical: a structured conversation on Art and Southeast Asia in context,” part II brings together an array of eminent speakers and respondents to address questions of contemporary art and culture through interdisciplinary approaches—considering bodies of water as cultural-territorial spaces in an exploration of rivers, land reclamation, sea ports, and nomadic communities. The conversations arising from this symposium offers insight into the Southeast Asian consciousness and how it informs the region’s evolving relationship with the wider world.
The symposium is organised by NTU CCA Singapore under its Research & Education programme, which aims to connect research based artistic practices with other forms of knowledge production.
The programme is commissioned by the National Arts Council (NAC) and supported by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), with additional support from U.S. Embassy Singapore and National Gallery Singapore.
Friday, June 17, 7–9pm
Day 1: National Gallery Singapore
Keynote lecture by Professor Aihwa Ong (Malaysia/United States), Robert H. Lowie Distinguished Chair in Anthropology and Chair of Asian Studies, University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley)
Respondent, Professor C.J. Wee Wan-ling (Singapore), Division of English, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
Saturday, June 18, 9:30–6pm
Day 2: NTU CCA Singapore
Keynote lecture by Professor Michael M.J. Fischer (United States), Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities, and Professor of Anthropology and Science and Technology Studies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Respondent, Dr. Kristy H.A. Kang (United States/Singapore), Assistant Professor, School of Art, Design & Media, NTU
Session 1: “The River and its Representations”
Gridthiya Gaweewong (Thailand), Artistic Director and Curator, Jim Thompson Art Center, Bangkok
Dr. David Teh (Australia/Singapore), Assistant Professor, Department of English Language and Literature, National University of Singapore (NUS)
Session 2: “The Land and its Reclamations”
Joshua Comaroff (United States/Singapore), design consultant, Lekker Architects
Seth Denizen (United States), PhD candidate, Department of Geography, UC Berkeley
Shabbir Hussain Mustafa (Singapore), curator, SEA STATE, and Senior Curator, National Gallery Singapore
Session 3: “Of Nomads and Sea Ports”
Dr. Donna Maree Brunero (Singapore), Senior Lecturer, Department of History, Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences, NUS
Dr. Imran bin Tajudeen (Singapore), Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, School of Design and Environment, NUS
Dr. Wee Beng Geok (Singapore), Consultant, Nanyang Business School, NTU
Dr. Vivienne Wee (Singapore), independent anthropologist and researcher
Roundtable discussion
Panellists include Professor Michael M.J. Fischer, Charles Lim Yi Yong, Shabbir Hussain Mustafa, and Professor Aihwa Ong
Chaired by Professor Ute Meta Bauer (Germany/Singapore), Founding Director, NTU CCA Singapore, and Professor, School of Art, Design and Media, NTU and Dr. David Teh
For the full programme, please visit: www.ntu.ccasingapore.org
For further information and RSVP, please contact [email protected].
