Understanding Balinese paintings: collections, narrative, aesthetics and society. This project will use digital tools, fieldwork and formal analysis to link a major collection of Balinese paintings held in Australia to collections elsewhere in the world, and to the current practices of Balinese artists. The project increases the capacity of Australia to analyse the cultures of Indonesia and to contribute to regional heritage preservation. The outcomes will provide a basis for future public exhib ....Understanding Balinese paintings: collections, narrative, aesthetics and society. This project will use digital tools, fieldwork and formal analysis to link a major collection of Balinese paintings held in Australia to collections elsewhere in the world, and to the current practices of Balinese artists. The project increases the capacity of Australia to analyse the cultures of Indonesia and to contribute to regional heritage preservation. The outcomes will provide a basis for future public exhibitions of paintings and web-based resources linking Australian public institutions and Balinese communities.Read moreRead less
The Art of AIDS Prevention: Cultural Responses to HIV/AIDS in Australia and the United States. While a number of studies have examined HIV/AIDS as a biological entity, the crucial 'cultural construction' of AIDS, and the effect of this construction on people living with AIDS and the wider public, is poorly understood. This project will assist wider awareness of the fact that public understandings of disease and affected individuals are both culturally mediated and contestable. In examining the i ....The Art of AIDS Prevention: Cultural Responses to HIV/AIDS in Australia and the United States. While a number of studies have examined HIV/AIDS as a biological entity, the crucial 'cultural construction' of AIDS, and the effect of this construction on people living with AIDS and the wider public, is poorly understood. This project will assist wider awareness of the fact that public understandings of disease and affected individuals are both culturally mediated and contestable. In examining the important role that artists played in confronting AIDS, this project will also suggest how similar cultural interventions might be employed during existing and future disease epidemics and other public health threats.Read moreRead less
Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Australia: researching and relating Australia's manuscript holdings to new technologies and new readers. Building on the productive partnership forged with the State Library of Victoria in the presentation of a recent large-scale manuscript exhibition, this project will research the Medieval and Renaissance manuscripts in Australia with reference to the interests of scholars and the general public. National and community benefits include access online to t ....Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in Australia: researching and relating Australia's manuscript holdings to new technologies and new readers. Building on the productive partnership forged with the State Library of Victoria in the presentation of a recent large-scale manuscript exhibition, this project will research the Medieval and Renaissance manuscripts in Australia with reference to the interests of scholars and the general public. National and community benefits include access online to this precious heritage material and its global connections, and communication of research findings in publications and events designed for a variety of readers and audiences. The project will foster collaboration between curators, librarians and academic scholars and ensure Australia's timely participation in important international initiatives in this fieldRead moreRead less
Photography as a Crime. This project refers specifically to the goal: Strengthening Australia's Social and Economic Fabric. By investigating the changing nature of public photography, this research will contribute to mapping contemporary transformations in the configuration and occupation of public space. Shared participation in public spaces is crucial to a healthy society, and to fostering social connectivity by enabling us to build empathetic connections with each other. The ability to unders ....Photography as a Crime. This project refers specifically to the goal: Strengthening Australia's Social and Economic Fabric. By investigating the changing nature of public photography, this research will contribute to mapping contemporary transformations in the configuration and occupation of public space. Shared participation in public spaces is crucial to a healthy society, and to fostering social connectivity by enabling us to build empathetic connections with each other. The ability to understand the society in which we live is also central to a safe and secure Australia. Thus, this project will also contribute to Safeguarding Australia, by enhancing the priority goal of Understanding our Region and the World.Read moreRead less
Determining the age and origins of Indonesian and Indian trade textiles: multidisciplinary research in art history and conservation science. The National Gallery of Australia holds a world-renowned collection of Asian textiles and Australian art historians, conservators and curators are international leaders in the field of research, conservation and exhibition of Asian textiles. On this project they join forces to advance international understanding of the antiquity and identity of historical ....Determining the age and origins of Indonesian and Indian trade textiles: multidisciplinary research in art history and conservation science. The National Gallery of Australia holds a world-renowned collection of Asian textiles and Australian art historians, conservators and curators are international leaders in the field of research, conservation and exhibition of Asian textiles. On this project they join forces to advance international understanding of the antiquity and identity of historical production centres in India and Indonesia through selected carbon dating and physical analysis of key textile types from museum collections and the field. The results will assist in the reliable, inexpensive and non-intrusive guidelines for other collecting institutions to assess the age and origins of textiles in their care.Read moreRead less
Measuring Asian Art's Contribution to Contemporary Culture in Australia. This project substantially develops the research base of two of Australia's leading community-based arts organisations, advancing the theory and practice of multicultural arts programming. In partnership with a major contemporary art gallery in China, it demonstrates how Asian and Australian art can engender community, regional and international dialogue, offering insight into the transformation of local environments. It ad ....Measuring Asian Art's Contribution to Contemporary Culture in Australia. This project substantially develops the research base of two of Australia's leading community-based arts organisations, advancing the theory and practice of multicultural arts programming. In partnership with a major contemporary art gallery in China, it demonstrates how Asian and Australian art can engender community, regional and international dialogue, offering insight into the transformation of local environments. It addresses existing limitations in multicultural arts programming, positing a model of best practice based on dialogue rather than minority representation. It offers unique doctoral level training in Asian and multicultural arts curatorship and significantly advances the discipline base of visual culture in AustraliaRead moreRead less
The twentieth century in paint. The art market is a major contributor to the Australian economy worth over $500M per annum. However many modern works created with new materials introduced in the 20th century in Australia and Southeast Asia exhibit problems with deterioration, and there is little research on the use and effects of these materials. Without answers to material based preservation questions collectors, curators and conservators cannot make informed decisions. This project, with partn ....The twentieth century in paint. The art market is a major contributor to the Australian economy worth over $500M per annum. However many modern works created with new materials introduced in the 20th century in Australia and Southeast Asia exhibit problems with deterioration, and there is little research on the use and effects of these materials. Without answers to material based preservation questions collectors, curators and conservators cannot make informed decisions. This project, with partners in Australia, Asia, US and UK will provide fundamental information to assist in formulating management strategies, inform curatorship and develop innovative approaches to conservation and the manufacture of art materials.Read moreRead less
Aesthetic Education and Public Galleries. To study how galleries can enhance the quality of public engagement with the works of art on show. All galleries want to do this, but there is much uncertainty about how to understand 'quality of engagement' and about what galleries could and should do to enhance this. We shall provide conceptual analysis and a practical model for the provision of aesthetic education in public galleries. This will be a substantial contribution to a widely acknowledged p ....Aesthetic Education and Public Galleries. To study how galleries can enhance the quality of public engagement with the works of art on show. All galleries want to do this, but there is much uncertainty about how to understand 'quality of engagement' and about what galleries could and should do to enhance this. We shall provide conceptual analysis and a practical model for the provision of aesthetic education in public galleries. This will be a substantial contribution to a widely acknowledged problem. We hope to provide a workable model which can be used in gallery practice.Read moreRead less
Couples: depictions of sexuality in South and Southeast Asian art. This collaborative project between the University of Sydney and the Art Gallery of NSW will explore a central element in the art and society of South and Southeast Asia, the couple, whether divine or mortal. The project explores the nature of partnerships and sexual power primarily through image based research, to establish new contexts for interpreting their history, depiction and representation. The variety in images of couples ....Couples: depictions of sexuality in South and Southeast Asian art. This collaborative project between the University of Sydney and the Art Gallery of NSW will explore a central element in the art and society of South and Southeast Asia, the couple, whether divine or mortal. The project explores the nature of partnerships and sexual power primarily through image based research, to establish new contexts for interpreting their history, depiction and representation. The variety in images of couples illustrates complex and changing ideas about relationships between the sexes. Equally complex are depictions of the goddess, androgynous figures such as the form of Shiva as half male, half female, and same sex partnerships. Expected outcomes are a major publication, a symposium and an exhibition.Read moreRead less