PIVOT: The Southeast Asian Art World Beyond COVID-19
15 - 19 June 2020
5 - 6 pm (GMT+8) daily on Zoom
This event has concluded.
COVID-19 has shaken up the global art ecosystem, rendering many current practices untenable, and necessitating systemic changes. In this series of panel discussions, we invite stakeholders in the Southeast Asian art world to speak about how they are dealing with the myriad curveballs emerging from the pandemic. As governments across the region begin to lift restrictions cautiously, we ask them how they are innovating to stay afloat and thrive, from immediate safeguards to long-term plans. PIVOT will highlight the resilience, creativity and optimism of the community in navigating the complexities of an altered landscape.
DAY 1 | 15 June 2020
How will public art institutions engage with audiences?
The unprecedented shutdown of museums and other public art institutions worldwide has proven a major challenge to their raison d’être. Our panel of institutional directors and curators will speak about the challenges they face; measures and inventive strategies they have put in place to continue engaging with their audiences; and the futures of their respective institutions.
DAY 2 | 16 June 2020
How will galleries market and sell artworks?
Non-essential businesses across the world have had to deal with significant decline in business ever since the global economic fallout of Covid-19 became clear. In the art market, the dominant response has been to migrate to the digital realm. Our panel of gallerists will offer their views on soldiering through these trying times, how the push online may transform their businesses in the long haul, and what else they are doing to future-proof their galleries.
DAY 3 | 17 June 2020
How will artists approach their practices?
Artists are the creative heartbeat of the global art ecosystem but are usually part of a more unstable informal economy. With varying degrees of governmental support and an art market decimated by shutdowns and adverse sentiments, the patterns, focus and intensity of their work have been significantly altered. Our panel of artists will reflect upon the adaptations they have made to individual practices, and their thoughts on a more sustainable future for practitioners.
DAY 4 | 18 June 2020
How will the art world negotiate borders and be reformed?
The highly globalised cross-border movement of people and art has grounded to an abrupt standstill with the COVID-19 pandemic. Predictions of a “new normal” to come envision a de-globalised artworld that serves local communities more than a global audience. With their extensive experience in policy-planning, cultural communications and the logistics of art, our panellists will share perspectives on how the Asian art world will carry out its activities, and how centres and peripheries might be reformed.
DAY 5 | 19 June 2020
How will art collecting agendas evolve?
As a consequence of massive economic shocks engendered by governmental responses to contain Covid-19, we have seen a marked cutback in activities in the physical art world. While there may be a rise in marketplace opportunities, the paper value of art collections simultaneously hangs in the balance. Our panel of collectors will talk about their desire and strategies for collecting today, and how they aim to move forward in their multiple roles to support their communities.
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