Probing Arts and Emergent Forms of Life

Michael M. J. Fischer calls for a new anthropology of the arts that attends to the materialities and technologies of the world as it exists today, examining the work of Southeast and East Asian artists who speculate about changing the world in ways that are attuned to its cultivation, repair, and rethinking in the Anthropocene. Their artistic vocabulary undoes Western art models and categories, probing the unfolding future, addressing past trauma, and creating contested, vibrant, and flourishing spaces.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 26 May 2023
Publisher: Duke University Press

Michael M. J. Fischer, in his book "Probing Arts and Emergent Forms of Life," advocates for a transformative approach to anthropology that focuses on the materialities and technologies of our contemporary world. He delves into the artistic practices of key Southeast and East Asian artists, examining their experiences within the contexts of unequal access, geopolitical tensions, resonant past traumas, and emerging social dynamics. Fischer highlights the work of artist-theorists such as Entang Wiharso, Sally Smart, Charles Lim, Zai Kuning, and Kiran Kumar, who engage in speculative thinking about shaping the world in ways that align with the cultivation, repair, and reimagining of our Anthropocene environment. These artist-theorists challenge traditional Western art models and categories, instead exploring the possibilities of the future, addressing past traumas, and creating spaces that are contested, vibrant, and flourishing.

Through his exploration of artists across Indonesia, Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, Fischer argues that the theoretical discourses of these artists should be given greater precedence over the perspectives of curators, historians, critics, and other gatekeepers who seek to protect and control the art world for their own purposes. By privileging the artistic voices of these individuals, Fischer seeks to foster a more inclusive and dynamic understanding of the role of art in shaping our world.

In conclusion, "Probing Arts and Emergent Forms of Life" offers a compelling vision for a new anthropology of the arts that recognizes the profound impact of materiality and technology on our lives. By exploring the artistic practices of Southeast and East Asian artists within the crucibles of unequal access, geopolitics, past traumas, and emerging socialities, Fischer challenges us to reimagine our relationship with the world and to embrace the transformative power of art in shaping our collective future.

Weight: 567g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781478019770