23 Oct 2015

Call for papers: The politics of Southeast Asian contemporary art

Our upcoming issue aims to shed light on the political function of art in diverse contexts in Southeast Asia. Among other things, the issue will discuss the formation of Southeast Asian contemporary art scenes, and of a regional conscience in contemporary art: In particular, the implications and consequences for artists' ability to reflect and influence their local political situation, and for the possibility of meaningful cooperation between artists and art scenes.

As a part of this investigation, the issue will also discuss topics such as the (potential) function of art in public spaces, and how the contemporary art economy influences the political agency of art and the freedom of expression in Southeast Asian societies.

We invite contributors from diverse disciplinary backgrounds to submit essays, exhibition reviews or interviews that address the theme 'The politics of Southeast Asian contemporary art' through a high variety of possible angles.


Topics may include, but are not restricted to:

- The conditions of artists to influence the formation of their art scene, and to use the art scene as a platform for (internal and external) cooperation

- Regionalization/ globalization of contemporary Southeast Asian art and its consequences for the societal function and meaning of art in specific contexts.

- The conditions of artists to reflect and influence their local political situation through art.

- Critical artistic responses to – and practices that rewrite – geopolitical, economic, cultural/ ethnical or historical master narratives though art

- Artistic approaches to political geography; reimaginations of territorialities, and renegotiations of the concepts of space and place.

- Processes of translation in the regional/ global mediation of Southeast Asian contemporary art

- Artistic strategies in response to censorship and violations of human rights

- Artistic responses to neoliberal urbanization; the functions of art in public space

- Mechanisms of the art market/ gallery systems in Southeast Asia - the artistic, cultural and political implications of established and emergent contemporary art scenes and economies

- Art's potential to promote cultural diversity, intercultural cooperation and understanding

- Art, ecology and environmental issues


Please send your proposal (abstract or draft), a brief bio and samples of earlier work to submissions@seismopolite.com

within November 12, 2015.

Submission deadline, final text: December 6, 2015.

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