Between Geopolitics and Geopoetics: Art, Power, and Diplomacy from the Gulf to the Pacific
Who’s winning the Asian culture race: the wealth of Gulf museums, the networked hustle of Central Asia, or the might of East Asian markets?
This public seminar examines the geopolitics and geopoetics of art across West, Central, and East Asia. Through case studies, it explores convergences, divergences, and opportunities in contemporary cultural practices, while positioning Singapore as a pivotal reference point for identifying cross-regional collaborations and cross-cultural dynamics.
In West Asia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates has pursued ambitious strategies in cultural tourism, museum diplomacy, and the creative economy. More recently, they have made significant investments in the regional art market, although questions remain about the long-term sustainability of these initiatives.
In Central Asia, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan demonstrate how emerging art scenes are integrating into global networks, moving beyond past dependencies and rivalries. Through public and private initiatives, they are developing institutions and events that showcase their distinctive cultural heritage, despite operating with more limited financial resources.
In East Asia, Greater China, Japan and South Korea remain a global heavyweight, with dynamic art scenes and established hubs commanding strong visibility and market share. Yet these countries still struggle to balance national growth between private and public actors and to advance international expansion and cross-border synergies amid rising tensions.
Remy Jarry
Speaker
Dr Rémy Jarry is an art historian, curator, and writer based in Bangkok. Living in Asia since 2011, he is currently a Lecturer at Chulalongkorn University and an Adjunct Professor at the Catholic University of Paris, while also working as an art critic and curator.
He holds a PhD in Art History and Theory from the China Academy of Art, written and defended in Chinese. He also holds MAs in Journalism and Art History, as well as an MBA from Sorbonne University in Paris. An alumnus of the Oxford Cultural Leaders Program (University of Oxford – Saïd Business School), he is a member of AICA, CIMAM, ICOM, and TIAMSA.
As an art writer, he has travelled extensively across the Asia-Pacific and Europe, covering more than 20 countries. He has published regularly in international art magazines in English (including Frieze, Mutual Art, Ocula, and Stir) and in French (such as Le Journal des Arts), alongside academic research papers. His work is grounded in a resolutely non-ethnocentric, multidisciplinary approach.
Rémy is one of the curators of the upcoming Bangkok Art Biennale, titled Angels & Mara (October 29, 2026 – February 28, 2027), following several curatorial achievements in recent years.
Natalia Grincheva
Moderator
Dr Natalia Grincheva is a Programme Leader in Arts Management at LASALLE College of the Arts, University of the Arts Singapore and an Honorary Senior Research Fellow in the Digital Studio at the University of Melbourne. Her research focuses on innovative forms and global trends in contemporary museology, digital diplomacy and international cultural relations. She received many prestigious international academic awards, including Fulbright (2007–2009), Quebec Fund (2011–2013), Australian Endeavour (2012–2013) and SOROS research grant (2013–2014). In 2020 she was awarded Oxford Fellowship for her visiting research residency at the Digital Diplomacy Research Center at the University of Oxford. Apart from her most recent co-authored book, Geopolitics of Digital Heritage (Cambridge University Press: 2024), Dr Grincheva’s publication portfolio includes two monographs: Museum Diplomacy in the Digital Age (Routledge: 2020) and Global Trends in Museum Diplomacy (Routledge: 2019).