Published by: Sternberg Press
Year of publication: 2016
Language: Deutsch/Englisch
Pages: 287
ISBN: 978-3-956792-60-1

Contributions by: Ute Meta Bauer, Zoe Butt, Kevin Chua, Patrick D. Flores, Gridthiya Gaweewong, Tony Godfrey, Yin Ker, Eileen Legaspi-Ramirez, Seng Yu Jin, Simon Soon, Nora A. Taylor, David Teh 

Content                                

Preface

Contemporary art from Southeast Asia has become increasingly visible in Europe in recent years at biennials, museums, and art fairs. Its contexts of origin and production conditions, however, remain little known. The 63rd issue of the Jahresring sheds light on these contexts, presenting actors and venues that play a crucial role in art-making processes. Authors from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam accepted the invitation from Ute Meta Bauer and Lee Wenig Choy to offer insights into and discuss the art activities in this region that range from small projects initiated by artists to widely connected international initiatives.

The volume raises the following questions: How can contemporaneity build upon local identities, traditions, and criticalities? How is state repression dealt with? How can one succeed in eluding the tight embrance of the Western art world percveived by some as recolonization?

It shows in a highly impressive way how the production and presentation of art is interconnected with globalization processes, the colonial past, and current power relations.

The texts describe the commitment of curators to create free spaces for art that also integrate the public in the processes of raising historical consciousness and engagement with ecological, social, and geopolitical issues. The Jahresring is honored to present these remarkable initiatives striving for the exploration of new curatorial spaces.

Brigitte Oetker and Isabel Podeschwa