Articles Archives

Artistic Freedom Report (2023 – 2024) : Everything, everywhere, all at once

The key findings and analysis of challanges to, and violations of, artistic freedom in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia and The Philippines from the Southeast Asia Artistic Freedom RADAR Project, 2023-2024. Figure 1 The Southeast Asia Artistic Freedom RADAR[1] documented 182 challenges to artistic freedom in Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam between […]

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Vietnam: Artistic Freedom Report 2023 – 2024

The key findings and analysis of artistic freedom in Vietnam from the Southeast Asia Artistic Freedom RADAR, 2023 – 2024. Digitalisation as Defence: Concerted Control of the Online Sphere in Vietnam Between 2023 and 2024, a total of 21 cases of challenges to artistic freedom and cultural practice were recorded in Vietnam—9 in 2023 and

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The Philippines: Artistic Freedom Report 2023 – 2024

The key findings and analysis of artistic freedom in The Philippines from the Southeast Asia Artistic Freedom RADAR, 2023 – 2024. “I am offended as a Christian” and other acts of moral policing In 2022, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. won the Presidential elections in the Philippines, with his running mate Sara Duterte winning for Vice President.

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Thailand: Artistic Freedom Report 2023 – 2024

The key findings and analysis of artistic freedom in Thailand from the Southeast Asia Artistic Freedom RADAR, 2023 – 2024. Silent Resistance: Censorship of Art and Culture in Post-Election Thailand Following the 2023 general election, Thailand’s socio-political landscape experienced a surge of hope for reform, but this momentum quickly encountered structural repression. This article examines

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Indonesia: Artistic Freedom Report 2023 – 2024

The key findings and analysis of artistic freedom in Indonesia from the Southeast Asia Artistic Freedom RADAR, 2023 – 2024. ‘The boys are back in town’ How Indonesia may be revisiting its dictatorial past Artistic freedom in Indonesia is intimately tied to the nation’s quality of democracy, which has taken a sharp plunge toward the

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Malaysia: Artistic Freedom Report 2023 – 2024

The key findings and analysis of artistic freedom in Malaysia from the Southeast Asia Artistic Freedom RADAR, 2023 – 2024. From Socks to Pork: How Everything Got Censored in Malaysia Introduction The tone was set in early 2023 by newly-elected Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in his pronouncement that the Malaysian government will “never recognise secularism,

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Cambodia: Artistic Freedom Report 2023 – 2024

The key findings and analysis of artistic freedom in Indonesia from the Southeast Asia Artistic Freedom RADAR, 2023 – 2024. Introduction Same same but different – Cambodia’s government reshuffle brings few surprises The 2023 General Elections in Cambodia witnessed a change in Prime Minister after 38 years – with power passing to his eldest son.

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Censorship and “Saving Face” In Cambodia

Censorship in Cambodia is often tied to upholding a certain image of the country. Reaksmey Yean highlights how this sort of action can come both from the authorities as well as citizens.

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We Are The Censors. Image credit: Katrina Stuart Santiago.

Pagkamalikhain, Konserbatismo, at Sensura: Isang Maikling Tanaw mula sa Pilipinas

Sa isang masaklaw at pangkasaysayang pagsusuri ng sensura sa Pilipinas, mula kay Marcos (Senior) hanggang kay Marcos (Junior), inilalatag ni Katrina Stuart Santiago ang mito ng kalayaang pansining sa Pilipinas. Sa proseso, tinutukoy niya ang lumalaking konserbatismo, at panibagong mga paraan ng pagsesensura.

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Artistic Freedom Report : Six Countries, 12 Years, 652 Violations

The key findings and analysis of violations of artistic freedom in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia and The Philippines from the Southeast Asian Arts Censorship Database Project, 2010-2022.

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Artistic Freedom Report Malaysia: Negotiating Sensitivities

The key findings and analysis of artistic freedom in Malaysia from the Southeast Asian Arts Censorship Database Project, 2010 – 2022.

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Artistic Freedom Report Vietnam: An ever-changing terrain

The key findings and analysis of artistic freedom in Vietnam from the Southeast Asian Arts Censorship Database Project, 2010-2022.

Artistic Freedom Report Vietnam: An ever-changing terrain Read More »

Artistic Freedom Report : Six Countries, 12 Years, 652 Violations

Artistic Freedom Report : Six Countries, 12 Years, 652 Violations Read More »

Artistic Freedom Report Thailand: Expansive and Politically Contentious

The key findings and analysis of artistic freedom in Thailand from the Southeast Asian Arts Censorship Database Project, 2010-2022.

Artistic Freedom Report Thailand: Expansive and Politically Contentious Read More »

Artistic Freedom Report The Philippines: The Limits of Democracy

The key findings and analysis of artistic freedom in The Philippines from the Southeast Asian Arts Censorship Database Project, 2010 – 2022.

Artistic Freedom Report The Philippines: The Limits of Democracy Read More »

Indonesia: Artistic Freedom Report

The key findings and analysis of artistic freedom in Indonesia from the Southeast Asian Arts Censorship Database Project, 2010 – 2022.

Indonesia: Artistic Freedom Report Read More »

Cambodia: Artistic Freedom Report

The key findings and analysis of artistic freedom in Cambodia from the Southeast Asian Arts Censorship Database Project, 2010 – 2022.

Cambodia: Artistic Freedom Report Read More »

Of Participatory Censorship in Malaysia

Zikri Rahman examines the evolving nature of censorship in Malaysia through the lens of participatory censorship, with illustrations by Low Pey Sien.

Of Participatory Censorship in Malaysia Read More »

10 Things You Should Know About: Sepak Takraw

In the latest episode of our popular 10 Things You Should Know series, we share facts about the Sepak Takraw.

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Silenced Voices, Unacceptable Humor, Distasteful Desires: The Censorship of Gender and Sexuality in the Philippines

Katrina Stuart Santiago demonstrates how recent incidents of artistic censorship in the Philippines have focused on the silencing of female and LGBTQIA+ voices.

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Papuan Cinema in a Time of Oppression

While Papuan cinema takes its place on the world stage, it is still viewed with distrust in Indonesia. Adrian Jonathan Pasaribu traces how and why Papua’s people continue to be excluded from the national narrative.

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Image Credit: artn't Collective's FB page

artn’t: Thailand’s Rebel Artists

Nutcha Tantivitayapitak and Sudarat Musikawong travel to Chiang Mai, Thailand to shine a light on the artn’t Collective, who are currently facing numerous legal charges for works that are viewed as critiquing the state.

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Installation view of Maile Meyer & Drew Kahuʻāina Broderick’s KĪPUKA [for “Natasha”] (2022), as part of Singapore Biennale 2022 named Natasha. Image courtesy of Singapore Art Museum

Installation view of Maile Meyer & Drew Kahuʻāina Broderick's KĪPUKA [for “Natasha”] (2022), as part of Singapore Biennale 2022 named Natasha. Image courtesy of Singapore Art Museum.

Natasha: A Biennale By Any Other Name

Striving to experience Natasha on their own terms, Xiao Ting Teo runs through the gamut of emotions, from exhaustion to uncertainty, to amusement, to moments of connection at the Singapore Biennale 2022.

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Image credit: Plainsunset's Facebook page.

To See My Plainsunset

Revisiting a favourite Singaporean band, Plainsunset, Diana Rahim fleetingly captures her youthful self and recalls the creativity of the local music scene in the early 2000s.

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Covid-time-capsule – drawn by Narumol Thammapruksa

Image credit: Narumol Thammapruksa.

“Covid Time Capsule”: Memories and Regret and Echoes from the Stars

Artists from the region created a virtual time capsule to capture the objects and memories of the past two years.

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10 Things You Should Know About: Pantun

In the latest episode of our popular 10 Things You Should Know series, we share facts about Pantun, a poetic form in Malay culture.

10 Things You Should Know About: Pantun Read More »

Firgure 4_Natha Larson_Image courtesy of The Factory Contemporary Arts Centre

Nathan Larson. Image courtesy of The Factory Contemporary Arts Centre.

The Art of Exhibition Licencing in Vietnam

In a country with opaque requirements for what can and cannot be shown, Linh Le highlights how something as seemingly straightforward as obtaining an exhibition licence may be used to control artistic expression in Vietnam.

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10 Things You Should Know About: Gasing

In the latest episode of our popular 10 Things You Should Know series, we share facts about the Gasing.

10 Things You Should Know About: Gasing Read More »

Image courtesy of Linh Le.

Nghệ thuật Xin giấy phép Triển lãm ở Việt Nam

Tại một đất nước như Việt Nam, nơi có những yêu cầu không rõ ràng về việc trưng bày, Linh Lê nhấn mạnh rằng chỉ cần một thứ tưởng chừng đơn giản như xin giấy phép triển lãm có thể trở thành một cách kiểm duyệt biểu đạt nghệ thuật.

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Collage by Pristine de Leon and Alvin Zafra

Collage by Pristine L. de Leon and Alvin Zafra. Full image credits below.

Criticism and Tears: The Emotional is Political in the Marcos State

When a film taps on emotions to distort historical facts, criticism that uses a rational, adversarial voice, above the work and the audiences who enjoy it may fail to dislodge the emotive power of the work’s narrative. Pristine De Leon looks for a path forward as a critic in this tricky landscape in her review of Maid in Malacañang’, a fictionalised retelling of the last days of the first Marcos presidency.

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