Bandung Workshop (30 August – 5 September 2015)
10 October 2015

Participants and leaders re-convened in Indonesia for a two-day cultural visit to Yogyakarta and a five-day research workshop at the Institute of Technology, Bandung. Throughout the workshop, the scholars shared their research findings on a range of topics to attending leaders and guests, and debated key issues related to art historical methodologies, approaches and frameworks in small-group discussions. Regional leaders, Professor T.K. Sabapathy from National University of Singapore and Professor Patrick Flores from University of the Philippines, conducted seminars on the writing of Southeast Asian art histories, and discourses of the Contemporary in Southeast Asia, respectively. Participants also attended a public event, Connecting Southeast Asian Art Histories, with talks and round-table discussions given by invited guests and regional leaders on a range of pertinent issues centring the writing, curating and historicizing of Southeast Asian art.

Throughout the five-day workshop, the scholars were given opportunities to visit museums and art spaces significant to Bandung’s cultural scene. Professor Adrian Vickers led everyone on a specialist tour to the Asia African Conference museum, extending discussions on regional politics that germinated during the workshop discussions. The participants were also given a glimpse of the local contemporary art developments when they were warmly hosted and shown an exhibition preview by Bandung’s eminent artist, Sunaryo Soetono, at Selasar Sunaryo Art Space.

This second phase of Ambitious Alignments earmarked the beginning of an exciting colleagueship of future young scholars committed to developing new directions in Southeast Asian Art History. There is little doubt that key milestones in research development were met during this workshop in which deep engagements with the participants’ various research projects were achieved. We look forward to their final presentations in the upcoming Singapore Workshop and Public Symposium, 18 – 24 Jan 2016.

Sydney Convening Meeting
03 March 2015

The Sydney Convening Meeting, which kicked off on 3 February 2015, at the University of Sydney, Camperdown, came to a successful close on 5 February 2015. Over three days, the scholars attended lectures by field experts, a reading seminar led by the Sydney leaders, and visited museums and special collections. Not only were the participants given opportunities to share their original research ideas with fellow participants, they also received invaluable feedback from attending field specialists and leaders. Some highlights included the tour given by Dr Stan Florek and Dr Siobhan Campbell on Anthony Forge’s Kamasan Collection at the Australian Museum (read blog entry), and the conversation session with Dr Michael Brand, at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. There is little doubt that the many stimulating conversations over coffee and food across the three days have given the participants plenty to think and talk about. It is precisely this type of congenial and convival environment that we hope would encourage colleagueship among the participants, drawn together by their deep interest in Southeast Asian art and history. We look forward to more intense discussions in the upcoming Bandung Workshop, 30 Aug-5 Sep 2015.