I’m pleased to announce the release of Asia Forum’s first publication – Thinking Collectives / Collective Thinking – developed in partnership with Worlding Public Cultures, and published by ICI Berlin Press. It’s available as an open access e-book here.
Thinking Collectives/Collective Thinking grew out of workshops held at documenta15, the 14th Gwangju Biennial and Asia Forum’s inaugural event at the Fondazione Querini Stampalia as part of the 59th Venice Biennale, 2022.
The publication delves into the dynamics of collective artistic practices, and looks in particular at histories, personal experiences, and theories in the context of global Asias. Featuring contributions from artists, curators, and activists, it focuses on the diverse contexts that shape both making and researching art. This ‘Companion’ book aims to bridge historical and theoretical knowledge with first-hand experiences and serves as a resource for a ‘worlded’ art history and contemporary practice.
It features six Asian artist collectives – Gudskul: Collective Study and Contemporary Art Ecosystem, Mai Ling, Nhà Sàn Collective, Projek Rabak, Republic of the Other and Tomorrow Girls Troop – reflecting on collectivism, and how and why they work together.
The publication also includes texts by Reiko Tomii, Soyoon Ryu and Eva Bentcheva, alongside collective documents produced by artists, curators and scholars that participated in the workshops “what kind of we could we be?” at Asia Forum at the La Biennale di Venezia 2022, the 14th Gwangju Biennial and documenta15.
The book is edited by Eva Bentcheva, Annie Jael Kwan and Ming Tiampo.
Details about the book’s event launch coming soon!
Annie Jael Kwan 