Writings of/for Art in Transnational Contexts: Contested Sites of Knowledge Production

Panel Convenor(s)

• DL

  Di Liu

  University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
• XN

  Xiaoyi Nie

  Royal College Of Art, United Kingdom

Panel Chair(s)

• DL

  Di Liu

  University of Cambridge, United Kingdom

Panel Discussant(s)

• JC

  Johnson Tsong-zung Chang

  China Academy of Art, China

Presenter(s)

• XN

  Xiaoyi Nie

  Royal College Of Art, United Kingdom
• PH

  Putra Hidayatullah

  UIN Ar-Raniry Banda Aceh, Indonesia
• BT

  Berto Tukan

  Gudskul Ekosistem Jakarta, Indonesia
• SL

  Sipei Lu

  Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, China

Contemporary art and its global infrastructure have long been a site for discussion and debate, often in the form of art criticism and writings about art — which are also related to 'parrhesia,' as discussed by Michele Foucault, a practice of speaking the truth. In transnational and transcultural contexts, art criticism by critics, creative writings by artists, and unbound writings derived from artworks and curatorial projects contribute to contemporary discourses across borders, but they also face enormous challenges depending on the context. 

The distinctive nature of art writings often involves tracing personal feelings, embodied experiences and family histories, in addition to academic formulation, as a process of knowledge production. Unlike conventional art historical writing, art writing is contemporaneous with evolving art practices and reflects the contemporary world that is at the same time historically contingent. It aims for a broader audience and emphasises real-life experiences, to a large extent, over scientific analysis or theoretical abstraction. 

In this panel, we would like to propose art writings of/for art as a new site for thinking about inter-Asian connections and postcolonial conditions, both in history and at present. We have invited writers and artists of Chinese or Southeast Asian origin who have had migrational experiences and have undergone or are currently undergoing rigorous academic training while remaining involved in art practices, individually or collectively. 

Each panellist will address a specific issue in their respective fields and explore art writing as a form of intervention, with a focus on critiquing historical moments, exhibitions, art practices involving (diasporic) Chinese in Asia and beyond. These papers aim to conceive new ways of capturing transnational and inter-Asian imaginations, and the fluidity of postcolonial discourses in the Sinophone as well as Asian contemporary art world.

Presentations:

• 11:15 – 13:00 (GMT+7)

  How Art Writings and Discourses Can Instigate (Cedong) - From 'Farewell to Post-colonialism' to ‘Qilu Criticism’
  

  Presenter: Xiaoyi Nie – Royal College Of Art
• 11:15 – 13:00 (GMT+7)

  Harvesting Collective Creativity: Redefining Art Writing in documenta fifteen
  

  Presenter: Putra Hidayatullah – UIN Ar-Raniry Banda Aceh
• 11:15 – 13:00 (GMT+7)

  From Writing to 'Blabbing' or Why Jurnal Karbon Doesn't Publish Articles Anymore But Talks on the Radio: A Reflection
  

  Presenter: Berto Tukan – Gudskul Ekosistem Jakarta
• 11:15 – 13:00 (GMT+7)

  Working with Writing
  

  Presenter: Sipei Lu – Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts