Revisiting the 1960s, Globalization, Monopoly, and Art Outlaws: Yayoi Kusama and the Rise of the Global Art Market

Based on her 2015 book, Yayoi Kusama: Inventing the Singular, Prof. Midori Yamamura will discuss Japanese-born artist Yayoi Kusama and Jewish art dealer Leo Castelli, who both launched their careers in New York’s 1950s multicultural downtown scene, where immigrants from diverse backgrounds converged after the Second World War. By the early 1960s, Kusama was exhibiting … Read more

Kung Fu Connection: Chinese Martial Arts and Community

This talk will focus on the multiple roles that Chinese martial art schools play in their respective communities. Although kung fu is a popular topic of discourse, conversations generally revolve around the historical and practical aspects of the art; ignoring the significant contemporary social and cultural significance that Chinese martial arts has in their respective … Read more

The Necessary Stage: Effective Use of Community Theatre

Alvin Tan will share his experiences on the effective use of community theatre. He will discuss The Necessary Stage’s devising and collaborative methodology, using some plays to illustrate how The Necessary Stage negotiates multiple cultural sensibilities, and the need to educate themselves before embarking on the artistic journey of theatre-making. One of the plays include … Read more

Painting Future: How the Market Economy Transforms Community Through Community Thangka Art in Rebgong

This talk is based on Dr. Ming Xue’s ethnographic research in Rebgong from 2009 to 2013. In Rebgong, Buddhist thangka painting is one of the major sources of income of local residents. Although thangka was traditionally a painting for religious teaching and practice, the aesthetic and economic value of thangka art has been increasingly recognized by … Read more