Collectives, Localities, Networks : A Translocal Ethnography of Emerging Contemporary Art Field(s) in Nepal and Bangladesh

Abstract

Artist collectives emerge as driving forces in the art field. They activate new spaces as locales of artistic practice and display. They shape emerging formats, from neighborhood arts projects to largescale biennials. In their practice, the artists challenge established notions of art as well as hegemonic circumscriptions of locality. This book results from a long-term engagement with artists in Nepal and Bangladesh and follows an actor-centered approach to unravel notions of contemporaneity and collectivity. Its focus on collaborative art practices together with its multi-scalar and translocal perspective urges us to rethink the use of terms such as the city, the region or the global that often transport hierarchies. oapen abstract other languages