2 August 2024

Nanyang academy of fine arts

How we express the pain of loss can be a powerful driving force when we collectively begin to heal

Following years of post-pandemic uncertainties and in the midst of global efforts in constructing the new normal in our everyday lives, we are faced yet again with the overwhelming surges of conflict, violence, and destruction. As the new facade which has defined the last few years of our lives, geopolitical conflicts have left a permanent impact upon humanity in general. The fact of the matter is that war scars a place and its people long after it is over.

Way of the valiant
Paving Art Through War

Inspiration

Amidst these turbulent times, our minds are often occupied with questions of whether the worst might be over, or has it just begun. Either way, how we respond as a cultural community is essential in potentially making a difference. They personify a constant effort to break down barriers of negative stereotypes. These are by no means a simple feat, but freedom of expression is the essential measure of a functioning and successful democracy and is something that we should all strive to achieve.

The way we express and respond as a cultural community is, hence, a topic worth exploring. How we express the pain of loss and the hope for a future without it can be a powerful driving force behind creative output when we collectively begin to heal or work towards healing. What we are also working towards achieving is this: No longer will art merely be a reliquary to the past, but discourses surrounding it will become a testament to the history built by the people of today. As we continue creating with a mindset of growth and resilience, it is during these most challenging times that we might discover our greatest strength and cultivate what is within our potential - resilience, wisdom, gratitude, and a sense of purpose.

Theme of discussion

NAFA's Southeast Asian Arts Forum 2024 will mark its 5th anniversary and this year is held in conjunction with ADPRex. In concord with the theme of precarity, the 5th edition of the Southeast Asian Arts Forum will once again evaluate the meaningfulness of practice, the arts, and our communities.

It begs the question more than ever; how can art and creative practices maintain and assert its relevance in such challenging times?

About Us

The Institute of Southeast Asian Arts was established in April 2010 with the aim of developing the capabilities of NAFA in the niche area of art being practiced in the region and to run a research and resource development agency within NAFA. ISEAA focuses on practice-led research; it is activity-based to benefit students and faculty primarily through workshops. The Institute also forms a network of different partners in Singapore and the Southeast Asian region to represent the spectrum of visual, performing and management arts and to formulate broad-based collaborative projects with individuals and groups of artists.