Programmes

The Subject of Archives

Asia Art Archive presents 'The Subject of Archives', a one-day symposium hosted by the School of Arts and Aesthetics, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on 26 February 2011 at the School of Arts and Aesthetics Auditorium, JNU, New Delhi. This symposium is occasioned by the launch of 'Another Life: The Digitised Personal Archive of Geeta Kapur and Vivan Sundaram', the newly digitised personal archive of art critic and curator Geeta Kapur and contemporary art practitioner Vivan Sundaram.

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The first art archive in India to be digitised by AAA, the project brings to the public the broad range of material collected by Kapur and Sundaram since the 1950s. Originally established as a personal archive, the collection not only documents the artwork and writings produced and published thus far during Kapur and Sundaram’s prolific careers, but also documents events in India’s art community over the last 50 years, and includes exhibition catalogues, newspaper clippings, and artists' slides, some of which are entering the public domain for the first time.

The symposium will reflect on a growing interest in the subject of archives around the world, coupled with an escalating anxiety about the custodianship of memory. Through presentations by internationally and regionally respected scholars and opportunities for open dialogue, The Subject of Archives will create a platform for the ongoing discussions that surround issues of archiving today, particularly with regard to India. 

The symposium will begin with introductory remarks by Claire Hsu, AAA Executive Director, followed by presentations from the following guest speakers: Sven Spieker, Professor, Comparative Literature Program, University of California, Santa Barbara; Ashish Rajadhyaksha, Senior Fellow, Centre for the Study of Culture and Society, Bangalore; Parvez Kabir, Lecturer, Kala Bhavan, Santiniketan, India among others. In addition, Vivan Sundaram will discuss his preoccupation with archives as an artist, and Sabih Ahmad, AAA Researcher for India, will discuss the digitisation process and share selected material from the project. 

Programme Schedule 
10:30am Welcome + AAA Introduction
Welcome address by Prof. Parul Dave Mukherji, Dean, School of Arts and Aesthetics Auditorium, Jawaharlal Nehru University
Introduction to Asia Art Archive by Claire Hsu, Executive Director, Asia Art Archive

11:00am  Session I
Speakers: Professor Sven Spieker, Professor, Comparative Literature Program, University of California, Santa Barbara
Ashok Sukumaran, Artist, CAMP and Pad.ma
Moderator: Jeebesh Bagchi, Artist, Raqs Media Collective


01:30pm  Session II                                                                       
Speakers: Ashish Rajadhyaksha, Senior Fellow, Centre for the Study of Culture and Society, Bangalore
Parvez Kabir, Lecturer, Kala Bhavan, Santiniketan 
Moderator: Geeta Kapur, Art Critic/Curator


03:30pm Session III                                                                        
Speakers: Vivan Sundaram, Artist 
Sabih Ahmad, Researcher for India, Asia Art Archive 
Moderator: Prof. Kumkum Sangari, William F. Vilas Professor of English, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Symposium Summation: Dr. Kavita Singh, Associate Professor, School of Arts and Aesthetics, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Final Remarks and Acknowledgement: Claire Hsu, Executive Director, Asia Art Archive

Special thanks to the School of Arts and Aesthetics, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Anupam Poddar and Lekha Poddar, Devi Art Foundation.