Imagining Asian Art in Transition: Symposium on Modern and Contemporary Asian Art

Symposium Date: 24^th & 25^th February 2024

Venue: School of the Arts, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang, MALAYSIA

We invite proposals for the two-day symposium on “Imagining Asian Art in Transition” to be held at School of the Arts, Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang, Malaysia on 24th and 25th February 2024. The symposium is organised by School of the Arts, Universiti Sains Malaysia, in collaboration with Faculty of Creative Arts, Universiti Malaya. The convenors of the symposium are Associate Professor Dr. Sarena Abdullah, Associate Professor Dr. Safrizal Shahir, and Dr. Simon Soon.

As the region of Asia continues to undergo rapid transformation, the modern and contemporary art of the region has experienced a corresponding shift. In turn, artists, curators and scholars have sought to make sense of the role of museums and new forms of cultural institutions in shaping the discourse around Asian art today.

The symposium aims to explore the complex and evolving qualities of modern and contemporary art of Asia, focusing on the key issues that have arisen in the field in recent years. For example, how technology has transformed the way artists work and has opened up new avenues for expression to explore questions of representation and power in relation to artistic practices. Additionally, new networks, pressures and opportunities brought about by globalisation have broadened our understanding of Asian Art. New challenges in the thinking about art in relation to broader environmental issues and at a planetary scale in the context of the present day have also contributed to the writing of modern and contemporary Asian art history.

We seek proposals of papers from scholars, art historians, artists, curators, and other professionals working in the field of Asian art that might offer new and enriched perspectives in the study of the modern and contemporary art of Asia. We welcome submissions addressing some of the issues mentioned in this call, and also encourage proposals that explore related issues beyond these parameters. Postgraduate students and emerging scholars in related disciplines are highly encouraged to submit their proposals for this symposium.

To apply, please submit an abstract of no more than 300 words outlining your proposed paper, along with a brief bio and contact information to safrizal@usm.my, sarena.abdullah@gmail.com. The deadline for application is 30 July 2023. Selections will be made in August 2023, and notifications of acceptance will be sent out in early September 2023. Participants are required to pay a symposium fee of RM220 for Malaysians or USD100 for International participants.

In addition, selected papers will be compiled and published in a special section on the symposium in the 2025 issue of Wacana Seni Journal of Arts Discourse. Article processing charges for Wacana Seni Journal of Arts Discourse will be borne by the authors.

We look forward to receiving your proposals!