Art in Context

Art in Context: Japan

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On January 24, 2018, IA&A hosted Art in Context: Japan, a discussion on Japanese culture, identity, and the broader conditions impacting creative work and partnerships. The event was held at IA&A at Hillyer during visual artist Kei Ito’s exhibition Only What We Can Carry. Along with Ito, the panel also featured Laurel Lukaszewski, a DC-based artist and director of White Point Studio, and Matt Levitas, the Cultural Affairs Coordinator at the Japan Information & Culture Center at the Embassy of Japan. The conversation was moderated by Allison Nance, Director of IA&A at Hillyer. A reception sponsored by Teaism and Matsukawaya followed the program. Guests were able to taste freshly-made matcha and wagashi, a traditional Japanese sweet.

Ito opened the conversation by telling the audience about his own experience as a third generation Hiroshima descendant and American immigrant. He explained that his art can be a reflection of the past and a commentary on the political present, while still being a symbol of hope for a brighter future. With another piece on view at the Baltimore War Memorial, Ito expressed hope that his art would reach a wide audience of Americans who may never step foot in a gallery.

Lukaszeweski and Levitas both spoke about the connections between art and public diplomacy. Having been an exchange student in a rural Japanese town after college, Lukaszeweski spoke about how this experience shaped her art and led her to champion American-Japanese relations. As a board member of the Cherry Blossom Festival in DC, Lukaszeweski strives to spotlight a kaleidoscope of artists that display a broad swath of Japanese culture. Levitas also added that the Embassy of Japan is dedicated to exposing Americans to Japanese culture not just through the visual arts, but also through alternative creative avenues such as sports, design, and technology. People-to-people exchanges in the creative fields are vital and art is a medium that transcends borders, opens dialogues, and encourages cross-cultural understanding. As Ito eloquently explained, “Art has more power than everyone thinks.”

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A project of IA&A’s Cultural Exchange Programs, the International Partnership Initiative champions international work between American arts institutions and their counterparts abroad by creating a forum for discussion and discovery among leaders in the artistic, academic, diplomatic, and policy communities. The Initiative’s research and programming facilitates cross-cultural understanding and builds stronger ties through global partnerships in the arts.

Art in Context: Iran

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On October 11, 2017, International Arts & Artist (IA&A) hosted Art in Context: Iran, a discussion on Iranian culture, identity, and the broader conditions impacting creative work and partnerships. The discussion was held in conjunction with Urban Mapping, an exhibition of photography and video art on view at IA&A at Hillyer (formerly Hillyer Art Space). Curated by Gohar Dashti, Urban Mapping examines the concept of “public space” from the perspective of ten contemporary Iranian artists.

The conversation, which was moderated by Nazila Fathi, reporter and author of The Lonely War: One Woman’s Account of the Struggle for Modern Iran, featured voices from the arts, media, and nonprofit worlds, including Bahar Jalehmahmoudi, an Iranian-American installation artist and sculptor, and Shahrooz Shekaraubi, Founder and President of the Aftab Committee, a Washington, DC-based nonprofit organization that supports Iranian-American artists and their works.

During the discussion, panelists reflected on how shifting social and political conditions have shaped successive generations in Iran and the diaspora leading to different forms of creative resistance and new developments in the Iranian art market. Panelists discussed their contrasting interpretations of works featured in Urban Mapping, from the hyperpolitical to the uniquely personal. Shekaraubi and Jalehmahmoudi noted that many Iranian and Iranian-American artists experience an undue burden of representing their entire culture to viewers. On the issues of censorship and resistance, Jalehmahmoudi and Fathi highlighted various ways in which artists, filmmakers, and writers working in Iran contend with limits on free expression. Shekaraubi identified challenges particular to the Iranian context, including the concentration of galleries in Tehran, the political conditions impeding international exchange, and the influence of art collectors seeking work that aligns with stereotypical views of Iran.

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A project of IA&A’s Cultural Exchange Programs, the International Partnership Initiative champions international work between American arts institutions and their counterparts abroad by creating a forum for discussion and discovery among leaders in the artistic, academic, diplomatic, and policy communities. The Initiative’s research and programming facilitates cross-cultural understanding and builds stronger ties through global partnerships in the arts.

Art in Context: Korea

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On July 12, 2017, IA&A hosted Art in Context: Korea, a discussion with Julia Kwon, a visual artist whose exhibition Like Any Other was on view at IA&A’s Hillyer Art Space, Tom Vick, Curator of Film at the Smithsonian Institution’s Freer and Sackler Galleries, and Adam Wojciechowicz, Public Affairs Specialist at the Korean Cultural Center in Washington, DC. The conversation was moderated by Allison Nance, Director of Hillyer Art Space.

The discussion opened with the question, “How do the arts convey what it means to be Korean?” Kwon responded by describing the nature of her work and explaining how she does not want to use it to define what it is to be Korean. Instead, she wants to challenge stereotypes that are used to profile Korean people by incorporating cultural signifiers and identity expression in her art. Kwon’s explanation of her art appeals to themes echoed by the other panelists: cultural diversity and hybridity, the non-singularity of Korean art, and variation in art over time.

During the conversation, Kwon elaborated on the artistic process behind her exhibition Like Any Other, which took three years to complete. Most of her pieces involve physically wrapping objects with textiles, covering figures, painting, and framing pieces to imbue a sense of societal expectation. Kwon also explained that she uses textiles “to talk about the objectification of the figure.” The textiles themselves are also more varied than a cursory glance might suggest; the swatches range from Korean to Japanese to Chinese, and all add to the entrenched hybridity in her Korean identity.

The concept of a Korean identity is also central to the work of Wojciechowicz and the Korean Cultural Center, the cultural and public affairs arm of the Embassy of Korea. Wojciechowicz explained how the arts have been used to express the social, economic, historical, and political challenges faced by Koreans. On Kwon’s exhibition, Wojciechowicz commented that while the materials used may evoke traditional cultural practices, they are being repurposed in a contemporary way. This multidimensionality is also found in the art displayed at the Korean Cultural Center, Wojciechowicz said.

Each panelist acknowledged the growing popularity of Korean culture, especially in Korean entertainment. From global success of PSY’s “Gangnam Style” to the critical and box office acclaim found by directors like Park Chan-wook, Korean culture seems to be everywhere. When discussing the immense popularity of the Korean film industry, Vick explained that many Korean filmmakers grew up seeing American films, and that these films influenced the choices and techniques they eventually used in their work. Additionally, there are many Korean filmmakers that are interested in purposefully creating movies for an international audience, such Bong Joon-ho’s latest Okja.

Wojciechowicz added that from a policy perspective, the Korean government is actively engaged in reaching an international audience by promoting Korean art and culture. There is a growing interest in and appreciation of Korean culture in the twenty-first century. This has also manifested in the educational system, with a growing number of university students choosing to study abroad in Korea. Moreover, the arts are gaining traction among youth looking to explore fields outside the traditional STEM or business fields, creating a new generation of cultural producers poised to revolutionize the art scene in Korea.

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A project of IA&A’s Cultural Exchange Programs, the International Partnership Initiative champions international work between American arts institutions and their counterparts abroad by creating a forum for discussion and discovery among leaders in the artistic, academic, diplomatic, and policy communities. The Initiative’s research and programming facilitates cross-cultural understanding and builds stronger ties through global partnerships in the arts.

Art in Context: Italy

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On February 24, 2017, IA&A hosted Art in Context: Italy, a discussion on contemporary Italian culture, identity, and the broader socio-economic conditions impacting creative work. The event was held at IA&A’s Hillyer Art Space as part of the exhibition MARCO BAGNOLI, DOMENICO BIANCHI, REMO SALVADOR: From the Olnick Spanu Collection.

The event included a discussion with panelists Renato Miracco, Cultural Attaché at the Embassy of Italy, Cianne Fragione, artist, educator, and second-generation Italian American, and Manuela, former Event Coordinator at the Italian Cultural Society of Washington, DC, and current Youth-to-Youth Steering Committee Co-Chair at the World Bank Group. Each panelist provided thoughtful insights about the intersection between contemporary Italian art and identity. Allison Nance, Director of Hillyer Art Space, moderated the dynamic discussion between panelists and audience members.

The discussion covered a range of topics, but began with the daunting task of defining what it means to be “Italian” today. There was a consensus from Renato, Cianne, and Manuela that there is a certain pride one feels when being Italian or Italian-American. Italian culture, and by association heritage, has a strong connotation with beauty. According to Manuela, being Italian in America is like “being an ambassador of beauty abroad . . . growing up Italian is growing up in a culture of beauty.”

Italy’s rich cultural history can, in some instances, act as a barrier rather than a resource. There is a vast repertoire of work proceeding contemporary Italian artists that it can be challenging to define a modern identity. The panelists agreed that it is important to look back at history in order to modernize and bring it forward. “There is a burden of history,” notes Cianne, “[Artists] don’t all want to be Michelangelo.” This may be part of the reason why Italian artists seek opportunities abroad opposed to in their home country. Renato explained that many artists find it easier to achieve recognition abroad before gaining the same reputation in their home country.

Towards the end of the conversation, the panelists discussed how society can better support the arts as a whole. Cianne, an artist and arts educator, stressed that there needs to be a shift in how the arts and other creative fields are viewed. American society places more worth on STEM fields, an emphasis that discourages students from pursuing careers in the arts or creative industries.

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A project of IA&A’s Cultural Exchange Programs, the International Partnership Initiative champions international work between American arts institutions and their counterparts abroad by creating a forum for discussion and discovery among leaders in the artistic, academic, diplomatic, and policy communities. The Initiative’s research and programming facilitates cross-cultural understanding and builds stronger ties through global partnerships in the arts.

Art in Context: Taiwan

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On February 23, 2017, IA&A hosted Art in Context: Taiwan, a discussion on the social and political conditions affecting artists and cultural organizations in contemporary Taiwan. The event was held at IA&A’s Hillyer Art Space during Taiwan-based artist Pin-Chieh Tseng’s solo exhibition, Soliloquize. 

The conversation, which was moderated by Sarah Tanguy, a curator with the U.S. Department of State’s Art in Embassies program, featured voices from the art, policy, and academic worlds, including Pin-Chieh Tseng, an emerging visual and installation artist from Taiwan, Jack Yeh-Chin Kuei, the Director of Taiwan Academy at the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S. (TECRO), and Dr. Ying-Chen Peng, an associate professor of art history at American University. Over the course of the discussion, panelists touched on issues such as the role of government patronage in the arts, gender, the creative economy in Taiwan, and the changing perceptions and representations of Taiwan on regional and global stages. Notably, Peng and Kuei highlighted the impact of Taiwan’s long history of colonization on shifting notions of cultural authenticity and identity on the island. In tandem with these political changes, art forms such as impressionism or traditional ink painting gained or lost prominence depending on the policies of ruling powers. Turning their attention to the contemporary conditions influencing art production, the panelists compared models of institutional support for the arts in the U.S. and in Taiwan.

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A project of IA&A’s Cultural Exchange Programs, the International Partnership Initiative champions international work between American arts institutions and their counterparts abroad by creating a forum for discussion and discovery among leaders in the artistic, academic, diplomatic, and policy communities. The Initiative’s research and programming facilitates cross-cultural understanding and builds stronger ties through global partnerships in the arts.

Art in Context: Ireland

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On June 8, 2016, IA&A was privileged to host a panel discussion at IA&A’s Hillyer Art Space that explored perspectives on the role of the arts in shaping Irish cultural identity. Moderated by Allison Nance, Director of IA&A’s Hillyer Art Space, panelists included Claire Fitzgibbon, Consular & Cultural Affairs Counsellor at the Embassy of Ireland, Norman Houston, Director of the Northern Ireland Bureau, Jackie Hoysted, Curator and Visual Arts Director at Solas Nua, and Matt Torney, Associate Artistic Director at Studio Theatre.

As suggested by Fitzgibbon, Irish identity is fluid and increasingly complex. The panelists addressed the burgeoning importance of Irish identity within a broader European context, particularly as it relates to work on contemporary issues many artists are producing. Fitzgibbon and Houston highlighted their commitment to the arts despite tight budgets and competing priorities. The panelists also discussed the financial struggles that Irish artists face. Hoysted and Torney also spoke to the economic barriers that Irish artists must overcome due in part to cuts in government funding. They cited this as a catalyst for artists to create work that articulates the difficulties and societal issues that they face using humor, grit, and honesty.

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A project of IA&A’s Cultural Exchange Programs, the International Partnership Initiative champions international work between American arts institutions and their counterparts abroad by creating a forum for discussion and discovery among leaders in the artistic, academic, diplomatic, and policy communities. The Initiative’s research and programming facilitates cross-cultural understanding and builds stronger ties through global partnerships in the arts.

Art in Context: Iran

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On April 8, 2016, IA&A was honored to host a panel discussion with Barbara Slavin, Acting Director of the Future of Iran Initiative at the Atlantic Council, and Sara Namjoo, an Iranian illustrator and animator, at IA&A’s Hillyer Art Space.

Art in Context: Iran wove the arts and foreign policy sectors together to discuss concrete experiences of life in Iran and societal evolution over recent decades. Through descriptions of Iran pre-Revolution and post-Revolution, Slavin and Namjoo emphasized the contrast between the grayness of a post-revolution childhood and the rich colors and designs in Tehran. In addition to comments on their personal experiences, the panelists dismantled myths about Iranian society and culture, particularly in regards to women, who currently enjoy a variety of career opportunities and influential positions. The discussion also touched on the Iran Nuclear Deal, which recently lifted decades of oil and financial sanctions. The panelists spoke to the importance of the deal, which was intended to re-open Iran to the global economy and allow new channels of international collaboration. In particular, panelists considered how increased collaboration through the arts can offer non-political means of establishing bonds between nations.

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A project of IA&A’s Cultural Exchange Programs, the International Partnership Initiative champions international work between American arts institutions and their counterparts abroad by creating a forum for discussion and discovery among leaders in the artistic, academic, diplomatic, and policy communities. The Initiative’s research and programming facilitates cross-cultural understanding and builds stronger ties through global partnerships in the arts.

Art in Context: Pakistan

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On November 18, 2015, IA&A hosted its first Art in Context panel discussion at IA&A’s Hillyer Art Space, which featured a discussion with Saamia Ahmed, Curator and Professor at the National College of Arts in Lahore, Melanie Bixby, Executive Director of the U.S.-Pakistan Women’s Council, and Shaista Khilji, Professor at The George Washington University. The conversation was moderated by Wajahat Ali, Creative Director of Affinislabs.

Art in Context: Pakistan explored the impact of current cultural shifts within Pakistani arts and society. The panelists discussed contemporary influences on Pakistani culture, the implications of empowering formerly marginalized citizens, as well as what action is needed from future leaders. They recognized how women, artists, and millennials throughout Pakistan are leading groundbreaking initiatives to establish a more equal, creative society and to counterbalance the negative perceptions of Pakistan abroad. Together with Pakistani leaders, international partners from the public and private sectors are supporting cultural and economic initiatives, ranging from promotion of the arts to women’s entrepreneurship training. Commitments to the arts and to gender equity have resulted in a change in thinking among men and women who seek to engage all Pakistanis, regardless of gender or circumstance. At the discussion’s close, those in attendance acknowledged the important role that these dialogues play in expanding perspectives of the role of the arts in the international arena.

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A project of IA&A’s Cultural Exchange Programs, the International Partnership Initiative champions international work between American arts institutions and their counterparts abroad by creating a forum for discussion and discovery among leaders in the artistic, academic, diplomatic, and policy communities. The Initiative’s research and programming facilitates cross-cultural understanding and builds stronger ties through global partnerships in the arts.