Re-evaluating 'feminism' in the art practice of Amanda Heng from the 1990s to the present
This study is an urgent call to redress the conflicting definitions of ‘feminism’ in Singapore and its resulting effect in the study of the Singaporean artist Amanda Heng. It seeks to understand how certain labels – such as “feminist” – promote essentialist tendencies that ignore the diverse diff...
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| Format: | Thesis-Master by Coursework |
| Language: | English |
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Nanyang Technological University
2022
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| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/157106 |
| _version_ | 1811693481772449792 |
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| author | Chang, Natalie Min |
| author2 | Marc Gloede |
| author_facet | Marc Gloede Chang, Natalie Min |
| author_sort | Chang, Natalie Min |
| collection | NTU |
| description | This study is an urgent call to redress the conflicting definitions of ‘feminism’ in Singapore
and its resulting effect in the study of the Singaporean artist Amanda Heng. It seeks to
understand how certain labels – such as “feminist” – promote essentialist tendencies that
ignore the diverse differences in the study of (women) artists in Singapore and Southeast
Asia. Can women ever be perceived outside of their prescribed gender roles? Can a woman
artist ever be defined as merely an artist? How has feminism/-s abetted or hindered
specifically gender-centric discourses in Singapore and Southeast Asian contemporary art
history?
Taking these questions as a starting point, the study proposes a repositioning of feminist
parameters that have restricted Heng’s practice while subtly addressing the intersectional
concerns of women’s experience in the mainstream. Through an analysis of the artist’s work
from the 1990s to the present, it will examine aspects of community and collaboration by
bringing into focus the universal aspects of cultural and collective memory. Although
performance art has become an important mainstay in Heng’s practice, this study will
instead focus on her more project-based and collaborative work as a means of identifying
how her practice has evolved over time. Such a focus allows for parallel contemplation of
her early and more recent work by instigating dialogue between the two with each other.
The study concludes by highlighting the language of feminism that Heng has adapted in
creating a discourse of gender that benefits society as a whole. In so doing, it argues that
Heng has used this language to call into question and break down the different hierarchies
of gender, domestic labour, and the role of the artist within her practice. |
| first_indexed | 2024-10-01T06:52:22Z |
| format | Thesis-Master by Coursework |
| id | ntu-10356/157106 |
| institution | Nanyang Technological University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-10-01T06:52:22Z |
| publishDate | 2022 |
| publisher | Nanyang Technological University |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | ntu-10356/1571062023-03-11T20:03:37Z Re-evaluating 'feminism' in the art practice of Amanda Heng from the 1990s to the present Chang, Natalie Min Marc Gloede School of Art, Design and Media marc.gloede@ntu.edu.sg Visual arts and music::Art museums and galleries This study is an urgent call to redress the conflicting definitions of ‘feminism’ in Singapore and its resulting effect in the study of the Singaporean artist Amanda Heng. It seeks to understand how certain labels – such as “feminist” – promote essentialist tendencies that ignore the diverse differences in the study of (women) artists in Singapore and Southeast Asia. Can women ever be perceived outside of their prescribed gender roles? Can a woman artist ever be defined as merely an artist? How has feminism/-s abetted or hindered specifically gender-centric discourses in Singapore and Southeast Asian contemporary art history? Taking these questions as a starting point, the study proposes a repositioning of feminist parameters that have restricted Heng’s practice while subtly addressing the intersectional concerns of women’s experience in the mainstream. Through an analysis of the artist’s work from the 1990s to the present, it will examine aspects of community and collaboration by bringing into focus the universal aspects of cultural and collective memory. Although performance art has become an important mainstay in Heng’s practice, this study will instead focus on her more project-based and collaborative work as a means of identifying how her practice has evolved over time. Such a focus allows for parallel contemplation of her early and more recent work by instigating dialogue between the two with each other. The study concludes by highlighting the language of feminism that Heng has adapted in creating a discourse of gender that benefits society as a whole. In so doing, it argues that Heng has used this language to call into question and break down the different hierarchies of gender, domestic labour, and the role of the artist within her practice. Master of Arts (Museum Studies and Curatorial Practices) 2022-05-10T13:00:18Z 2022-05-10T13:00:18Z 2020 Thesis-Master by Coursework Chang, N. M. (2020). Re-evaluating 'feminism' in the art practice of Amanda Heng from the 1990s to the present. Master's thesis, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. https://hdl.handle.net/10356/157106 https://hdl.handle.net/10356/157106 en application/pdf Nanyang Technological University |
| spellingShingle | Visual arts and music::Art museums and galleries Chang, Natalie Min Re-evaluating 'feminism' in the art practice of Amanda Heng from the 1990s to the present |
| title | Re-evaluating 'feminism' in the art practice of Amanda Heng from the 1990s to the present |
| title_full | Re-evaluating 'feminism' in the art practice of Amanda Heng from the 1990s to the present |
| title_fullStr | Re-evaluating 'feminism' in the art practice of Amanda Heng from the 1990s to the present |
| title_full_unstemmed | Re-evaluating 'feminism' in the art practice of Amanda Heng from the 1990s to the present |
| title_short | Re-evaluating 'feminism' in the art practice of Amanda Heng from the 1990s to the present |
| title_sort | re evaluating feminism in the art practice of amanda heng from the 1990s to the present |
| topic | Visual arts and music::Art museums and galleries |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/157106 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT changnataliemin reevaluatingfeminismintheartpracticeofamandahengfromthe1990stothepresent |