Viravong SUNDARA (VIRA)

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Viravong SUNDARA (VIRA)

Participating Project	Curator Residency Program
Activity Based	Vientiane
City / Place stayed	Tokyo
Period	2024.1 - 2024.3

Purpose of the residency

My research during this residency will focus on the role of curators in the development of contemporary art with the case study of how curators in Japan work in the contemporary art field. Curatorial practice has risen to prominence in the contemporary art world because of the increased importance of mediating between institutional bureaucracy, market forces, artistic representation, and public tastes. In other words, a curator has a seminal role in the development of contemporary art. This research aims to examine the work of curators in Japan in the field of contemporary art, particularly the emerging field of new media art to understand their essential role and qualification in curating an art project.
During this residency, I plan to involve myself in the curatorial practices in Japanese culture in terms of the recent role of curators in contemporary art, learning through practical (visiting museums and art spaces, assisting curators, working with artists, interviewing curators and artists etc.) and theoretical (thoughts, conceptual ideas, picking up curious topics for discussion, books and examples of contemporary art in Japan etc.) approaches. In addition, culture exchange would benefit fruitful thoughts on how Japan and Laos have maintained curators and how curators work in each country. The most important purpose is to acknowledge the recent role of curators. I believe this project will enlarge my vision and strengthen my ability to dedicate myself to contemporary art in Laos.

Plan during the residency

• Mentoring, training, sharing, and discussion on diverse curatorial work
• Interview artists and curators
• Visit museums, art galleries, studios
• Make research paper
• Co - op a mini exhibition / Open Studio
• Public talk / Share how’s contemporary art in Laos has been formed
  

Activities during the residency

Activities during the residency

• Giving mentoring
• Training on diverse curatorial works with local artists and curators
• Interviewing and exchanging on how art applied to the society of Japanese artists and curators
• Visiting museums, art galleries, art spaces and alternative art spaces
• Making my own research paper for the Curator Talk
• Sharing how contemporary art in Laos has been formed

Outcome of the residency

As an outcome of the residency, I obtained very much on building networking with local / international artists, curators and art related sectors, which was my main point of the residency. Also visiting art-related places sharpened my eagerness and what I can apply to Lao art according to art practices in Japan. Also, sharing thoughts among diversity made me realize what I should step for to further the Lao art scene.
In the future, I hope the outcome of the TOKAS Residency program will be that I make an alternative art space to conduct curatorial courses like GAKU (in Parco Shibuya Bldg. ), and organize an artist-in-residence in Vientiane that would bring the most useful things to make Lao artists understand how they can sharpen and develop their practices, and exchange new vision and format. Then, holding open call for international artists to learn what Lao art scene is, I hope they will bring their diverse perspective and exchange their ideals with Lao Artists etc.
What I was impressed the most during the stay was about how TOKAS staffs provided information and made effort for international artists to connect with local people friendly and sincerely. It helped me explore more and meet people, who led me to another stages. This 3 months in Japan made me more critical through the Japanese society, thoughts, and perspectives, opening another perception to crystalize what I had seen before into the statement of mind. What I wanted the most was the art guide map, and I explored it from corner to corner, which never happens in Laos otherwise I must create the map like that on my own. This point made me realize that society given to art and artists in Japan especially in Tokyo is important, and enabled me to connect to art and international art perception gradually.

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