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In each edition of the Almanac, now in its tenth year, we provide annual reports about the 67 countries in the region, including Syria. Stefan Tarnowski reports on the country’s contemporary art scene for 2014.
Growing with the Times
Although a decade has past since we published the first edition of the ArtAsiaPacific Almanac, the work continues to present new challenges and new pleasures.
FX Harsono
In 1972, Documenta 5 was heralded as the institutional embrace of conceptual art in Europe. At nearly the same time, in Indonesia, a generation of artists living through massive societal unrest—without any access to the European avant-garde
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan continues to face a complex political landscape under President Nursultan Nazarbayev, the country’s first and only post-Soviet leader, who has attracted widespread criticism for his policies.
Mongolia
In November, Mongolia elected a new prime minister after the former one failed to improve the declining economy. Although it possesses substantial mineral deposits, Mongolia has struggled to convert them into economic gain
Sri Lanka
Since the end of a 26-year civil war between the government and Tamil separatists in May 2009, Sri Lanka has had one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, with significant development in tourism.
Syria
Syria’s civil war shows no sign of ending. The year 2014 saw United States-led military intervention in response to the rise of Daesh (the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Syria), a sign of the increasingly international nature of the struggle.
Tonga
The only Pacific nation never to have been colonized, Tonga transitioned to a constitutional monarchy in 2010. The Ministry of Education, Women’s Affairs and Culture organizes public cultural programs
Vietnam
The ruling Communist Party has presided over a rapidly growing economy since market-oriented reforms in the late 1980s, yet social liberalization was not part of the package. Censorship of cultural and political dissent is still enforced by stringent laws.
Yasumasa Morimura
I am an artist. Usually I make artwork, but from August 1 to November 3 of this year I served as the artistic director of the 2014 Yokohama Triennale.
Faced with Promise and Protest: MF Husain
As one of the pioneers of modern Indian art turns 95 this year, he finds refuge and sponsorship abroad while right-wing critics denounce his paintings at home.
