Socially Situated
Asynchronous Session
Exploration of Contributions of Curatorial Activism in the Promotion of Ecological Thinking Through Curated Experiments
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Shubhani Shubhani
The paper focuses on the efficacy of curatorial activism and seeks to illuminate the developments of the curated experiments to critically analyse the transformative role of the employed counter-hegemonic strategy of the relational approach in the promotion of environmental awareness. This study draws from Reilly’s approach to curatorial activism to highlight the role of curators in the formulation of meaningful conversations around ecological thinking. To elaborate on the employed strategy in the curated experiments, it questions the transformative power of curators in on-site and offsite activist events. The study endeavours to produce original practice-based inquiry by organising exhibitions, workshops and discursive events in collaboration with socially engaged artists and environmentalist organisations. The reflections from qualitative as well as scientific experiments will yield the data which will help the audience to assess the efficacy of the experiments This includes observing visitor behaviour, potentially allowing me to observe and map visitors’ reactions – the duration of visits, interactions with others, and patterns of movement around the events which is supported by survey responses and the expert interviews. The field study offers in-depth insight into the effectiveness of curatorial strategies through the dialogue on the development of curatorial activism and its ethical responsibility toward the ecological crisis. With the use of these methods, it assesses the transformative impact of curatorial experiments and approaches in the South Indian context.
Sexuality and Gender Artistified in Higher Education View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Katri Kauppala
Relying upon feminist and queer theory, this study explores feminist pedagogy in art education practices. More specifically, the research investigates how engaging with sexuality and gender in education relates to the uncovering of social structures, power dynamics, and normativity. This arts-based action research dives into the praxis of the course titled Sexuality and Art with university student participants from degree programs in art education, graphic design, applied visual arts, and industrial design. By integrating values from feminist pedagogy, such as ethics, agency, contextuality, and the interconnectedness of individuals, art education can create equitable environments that challenge dominant societal narratives. Functioning amid the tension between eager and hesitant students, stability-seekers, and disruptors. While the teacher maintains direction, permitting individuals their journeys. An equitable artistic sphere cannot be equated with pleasing every student; it entails accommodating diversity where possible. Through this study the varying responses of students shed light to the importance of delicate listening in educational settings, where intimate subjects are artistified.
Illuminating Heritage and Culture: The Sharjah Light Festival as a Confluence of Art, Technology, and Community Engagement
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Ayesha Alketbi
This paper explores the Sharjah Light Festival (SLF), a significant cultural event under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, which first commenced in 2010. Emphasizing the union of Sharjah’s rich architectural beauty and cultural heritage with innovative light technology, the festival represents a fusion of art, culture, and education. The SLF has evolved into a key component of the Emirate's cultural landscape, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. These visitors are captivated by the festival's unique blend of specially composed music, artistic creativity, and technical mastery, which together create stunning visual narratives on Sharjah’s landmarks. The festival serves as a tour through cultural magnificence, seamlessly integrating elements of beauty, art, culture, and innovation. It extends its reach beyond Sharjah, involving east coast towns like Dibba, Khorfakkan, and Kalba, thus fostering a sense of community and inclusivity. This study highlights how the SLF not only enriches the experience of travelers but also integrates tourism, culture, and creativity in a meaningful way, benefiting the local community. Annually anticipated, the SLF utilizes cutting-edge light technology and curated musical accompaniments to cast Sharjah's iconic landmarks, including the Sharjah Mosque, and University City Hall, in a transformative light. The designs showcased in the festival are often poetic, reflecting local culture, stories, and traditions, and sometimes incorporate themes of nature and space or modern art. The paper discusses how each artistic installation is not only aesthetically pleasing but also thought-provoking, contributing to a deeper appreciation of the Emirate’s cultural identity.
The Evolution of the Role of the Female Artist in Society: The Renaissance to the Present Day View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Asia Graziano
This contribution analyses the evolution of the role of the female artist in medieval, renaissance, modern and contemporary society through important case studies represented by illustrious personalities such as Properzia de' Rossi, Artemisia Gentileschi, Plautilla Bricci, Frida Kahlo, the Guerrilla Girls, Tracy Emin, Marina Abramović and Chiara Fumai. Experiences that make it possible to reflect on being a female artist, the themes, the relationship with the art market and the public, and the discontinuous evolution along the line of time in the perception of the figure of the female artist.
From Seoul 1988 to Brisbane 2032: Lasting Impacts of Summer Olympics and Paralympics on Arts, Culture and Creativity
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Kate Fielding
What are the lasting impacts of Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games on the arts, cultural and creative landscape of a city, a nation and the world? What do the examples of Seoul 1988 and Sydney 2000 teach us, and what should Australia strive towards achieving as the legacy of Brisbane 2032? The Summer Games are not just sporting events; they are arts, cultural and creative festivals. Ever since Athens 1896, the modern Games have provided host cities and nations with once-in-a-generation opportunities to showcase their enduring cultural heritage, contemporary cultural identity and bold cultural ambition. Being both in-person and mediated events, the Olympics are accessible to broad audiences and, at their best, are inclusive, celebrating the diversity of a nation's arts, culture and creativity. They have wide-reaching and enduring local impacts, helping sow the seeds for the next generation's cultural dividend. Hosting the Games is a sign of a nation’s maturity - culturally, socially, financially and technologically. Using three examples of Summer Games in South Korea and Australia, we examine their lasting impacts on arts, culture and creativity in and beyond the host country. Seoul 1988 showed South Korea’s readiness to develop deeper cultural and trade links and sparked the beginnings of the ‘Korean Wave’. Sydney 2000 helped initiate national conversations about First Nations peoples, volunteerism, and cultural participation and access. Arts, culture and creativity are already a focus of Brisbane 2032’s 20-year legacy strategy, providing a crucial opportunity to help shape arts and culture to sustain the next generation.
