2014.09.11 Thu, by
Randian to Participate in “The Big Picture” Conference

Hosted by the Australian Studies Centre at Renmin University and supported by the Foundation for Australian Studies in China (FASIC), the 2nd FASIC Australian Studies in China Conference, entitled “The Big Picture: Lives, Landscapes, Homelands in Australian and Chinese Art” will take place between 11 – 12 September 2014 at Renmin University of China, Beijing.

Convened by Professor David Walker, BHP Billiton Chair of Australian Studies at Peking University, the conference is designed to stimulate discussion in a field that has become increasingly important to both Australia and China, but which has not received the kind of attention it deserves within the broader Australian Studies community in China. The conference will address artistic practices and exchanges, the role and function of the cultural industries and changing perceptions of identity, place and belonging.

It will be the first event of this scale focusing specifically on the China-Australia arts relationship to be held in China, and will bring together a leading lineup of Australian and Chinese artists, curators, gallery directors, academics and cultural thinkers. They will share their insights over two days of panel discussions, keynote presentations, interviews and special performances and exhibitions.

Randian Editor Iona Whittaker will participate in the panel discussion “Visual Literacy in the Asian Century” on Friday 12th September at 1.45pm, alongside Suhanya Raffel (Director of Collections, Art Gallery of NSW) and Zhang Lansheng (artist, curator and art historian). The panel will be moderated by Aaron Seeto, Director, 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art.

William Yang, Lake George #2, 2010, digital ink jet print, 34 x 50cm. Courtesy the artist.