Forum speaker Vietnamese artist Lê Giang presents Vestige of the Land, exploring the life of communal houses in Northern Vietnam along the Red River.
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As a platform for Southeast Asian arts, the 5th edition of the Forum gathers regional artists, creatives, and scholars for livestreamed presentations, performances, and dialogues.
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In attendance are representatives from the Southeast Asian Arts Alliance – Respond, Collaborate, Harmonise (SEArch), an alliance of educational institutions in the region promoting research, programmes and group collaborations.
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Held in conjunction with the Forum, two exhibitions; Light permeates the wounds: Hoang Duong Cam by Vietnamese artist Hoang Duong Cam and Xenomech: Enigmas Inside the Margins by Malaysian artist Choy Chun Wei, offer their perspectives on creating meaningful art in times of uncertainty and conflict.
2 August 2024, Friday
10am – 5pm
Online and in-person
Admission is free, register to attend here:
https://seaartforum.nafa.edu.sg/
The Ngee Ann Kongsi Galleries 1 & 2
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
80 Bencoolen Street, Singapore 189655
#seaARTforum2024 #wayofthevaliant #UOBNAFA
The Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, University of the Arts Singapore presents UOB-NAFA Southeast Asian Arts Forum 2024, Way of the Valiant: Paving Art Through War. Organised by the Institute of Southeast Asian Arts (ISEAA) at NAFA, the fifth edition of this Forum will feature livestreamed presentations, performances, and dialogues. Gathering a diverse regional representation of artists, scholars and speakers from Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam; the Forum will explore how art and creative practices not only endure, but assert their relevance amidst conflict, violence, and destruction.
Dark Was the Night by Taiki Sakpisit
The Forum gains significant momentum this year in its fifth edition, bolstered by an enhanced title as a result of a five-year strategic partnership with UOB. Amid times of uncertainty and divisiveness, this Southeast Asian gathering has gained strength as a vital platform to foster dialogue in defence of art. The collaboration with UOB not only underscores the importance of corporate support in the arts but also amplifies the Forum's role in uniting artists, scholars, and enthusiasts from across the region.
Choy Chun Wei, Get FOMO: The Trending Gesture, 2024
Printed graphic, art resin and glass ink on a wooden panel base, 30.5 cm (H) x 183 cm (W) x 4 cm (D)
[Focusing on material culture unique to Southeast Asia, Choy’s abstract large-scale mixed-media pieces compels audiences to acknowledge the absurdity of turmoil while embodying hope for positive change.]
Key speaker Taiki Sakpisit is a Thailand-based filmmaker and visual artist, renowned for his innovative approach to storytelling and his profound exploration of Thailand’s complex history. He will present on his exhibition, Dark Was the Night, referencing Thailand’s volatile political climate through a wide range of visual, musical and cultural sources that blurs the line between wakefulness and dreams; prompting visitors to reflect on the enduring bonds of shattered relationships. Another speaker, Malaysian artist Choy Chun Wei, sees art as a powerful tool to transform human experiences into tangible forms. Making Material Personal: A Sign of Strength in Precarious Times discusses how the state of our suppressed emotion has reinvented our sense of identity. Choy is also exhibiting Xenomech: Enigmas Inside the Margins at NAFA from 19 July to 18 August, showcasing 19 of his recent works as visually stimulating conversation starters.
Southeast Asian Arts Alliance – Respond, Collaborate, Harmonise (SEArch)
At the Forum, NAFA will be launching the Southeast Asian Arts Alliance – Respond, Collaborate, Harmonise (SEArch), an alliance of educational institutions in the region promoting research, programmes and group collaborations.
NAFA’s legacy is deeply rooted in the region, and has since its founding years, imbued in its artists and students, an open attitude to art-making and social engagement, connecting tradition with the contemporary, openness to external influences and continual innovation, manifesting in a unique blend of regional influences and cultural identities. Established in 2010, ISEAA has been developing the capabilities of NAFA in this niche area of Southeast Asian arts, steering research and resource development in the academy. With the founding of SEArch Alliance, a network of institutional partners in the region, including Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), Silpakorn University, Vietnam University of Fine Arts (VNUFA), NAFA aims to lead the discourse and expand the influence of Southeast Asian arts.
As a beacon and gateway for Southeast Asian arts, NAFA welcomes you to participate in this assembly for artists and educators. Join us at the UOB-NAFA Southeast Asian Arts Forum 2024 online, or via small live audience groups. Participants may register their interest at https://seaartforum.nafa.edu.sg/.
ANNEX 1 – UOB – NAFA SEA Arts Forum 2024 Schedule
ANNEX 2 – Background Information (About NAFA, About ISEAA, About SEArch)
ANNEX 3 – Key Visual