Jointly organised by Asia Art Archive (AAA), Kwang Hwa Information and Culture Center, and Taiwan Contemporary Culture Lab (C-LAB), the international symposium The Histories and Archives of Independent Art Spaces of Asia takes place at C-LAB in Taipei from 11 to 13 April 2025.
The symposium invites twenty artists, curators, and researchers from India, Indonesia, Jordan, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and United States. They delve into narratives about various local art venues, cultivating new understandings about the histories of independent art spaces in Asia. A series of exhibitions and performances will be held on-site as part of the symposium.
The three-day symposium builds on AAA’s 2022–25 research project, Independent Art Spaces of Taiwan. It explores the dynamic relationships between independent art spaces, institutional frameworks, and broader shifts in cultural networks, thereby offering a diverse view of Asia’s artistic landscape. Three critical inquiries from the project's title are highlighted—Why “independent”? What types of “art”? And how is “space” created?—encouraging cultural practitioners and researchers to consider the role and influence of independent art spaces within Asia’s artistic landscape.
The symposium invites Gridthiya Gaweewong, Curator and Artistic Director at the Jim Thompson Art Center, as keynote speaker. Gaweewong sets the tone for the following discussions by exploring the power of artistic collaboration and examining how art spaces shape a resilient cultural environment. Independent art spaces not only serve as platforms to display work, but also act as important settings for exchange among artists, curators, and their audiences. As key sites for artistic experimentation and cultural dialogue, these spaces have redefined the methods of displaying art and its content.
Selected papers will be published with Afterall Research Centre's Exhibition Histories series (in association with Asia Art Archive; the Center for Curatorial Studies, Bard College; documenta Institut; and the Faculty of Fine, Applied, and Performing Arts, University of Gothenburg).
International Symposium
11–13 Apr 2025
Art Space I, Gray Box, Taiwan Contemporary Culture Lab, No. 177, Section 1, Jianguo South Road, Da’an District, Taipei, Taiwan
Mandarin and English simultaneous interpretation will be provided. Click here for the full agenda of the symposium.
Exhibition and Performances
29 Mar–13 Apr 2025
Art Space I, 1 & 2/F, Taiwan Contemporary Culture Lab, No. 177, Section 1, Jianguo South Road, Da’an District, Taipei, Taiwan
Artistic Interventions: Exhibition and Performances as Creative Response
A series of events featuring an exhibition and performances serves as artistic interventions that respond to on-site discussions, creating an intersection between theory and practice. During the symposium, panels are interspersed by performances that address various subjects through improvised or choreographed routines, inspiring more creative thinking. Additionally, an exhibition displaying case studies of Taiwan’s independent art spaces will be presented to further enhance core themes. This method of intervention enquires into the artistic processes through which art archives are produced, preserved, and reinterpreted.
All events are free and open to the public with registration.