Introducing the Asia Pacific Artistic Research Network channel for the Journal of Artistic Research

The development of artistic research has had a strong focus in Europe and the former British colonies, reflecting the critical restructuring of educational institutions and research policymaking in the wake of extensive debates about the role of art in knowledge production. Throughout the Asia-Pacific region, initiatives to support artistic research have been sporadic and have not always been well networked across disciplines and national contexts. For this reason, the Asia-Pacific Artistic Research Network (APARN) was initially formed in 2019 as a partnership between the University of Melbourne and Institut Seni Indonesia Yogyakarta, providing a connection point for artistic researchers working in, from, and with the region.

Subsequently, APARN was established as a Special Interest Group (SIG) within the Society for Artistic Research. It now has more than 300 members in its Google Group, which is open to artistic researchers working in and from the region. Part of the function of the SIG is to work through issues of coloniality in artistic research and to develop the artistic research community by creating a broader and more inclusive network of practitioners from across the region.

The overall goals of the network are to:

• Map artistic research initiatives and activities in the Asia-Pacific region.
• Provide a regional framework for practical collaboration between individuals and institutions.
• Develop an understanding of local cultural dynamics influencing artistic research activities in the Asia-Pacific region.
   

APARN emerged from a series of annual meetings initiated in 2019, which brought together artists, researchers, scholars, and practitioners interested in developing and strengthening artistic research across the region. These early gatherings fostered dialogue and collaboration, subsequently contributing to the publication of Rebordering the Archipelago by Perimeter Editions in 2024, as well as to participation in and contributions to artistic research events across Indonesia, India, the Philippines, and other parts of the region.
 

Since its beginnings, APARN has continued to grow from a network of annual meetings into an international conference that takes place across different countries in Southeast Asia and the wider Asia-Pacific region. The APARN conferences held in 2024, 2025, and 2026 have continued this trajectory, providing platforms for artists, academics, researchers, educators, and practitioners to share practices, exchange ideas, and critically engage with the evolving field of artistic research.
 

A key strength of APARN is its inclusive and open approach to artistic research. Rather than defining the field through a single discipline, methodology, or institutional framework, APARN encourages diverse forms of practice and knowledge production. The network creates a space in which different cultural, geographical, disciplinary, and methodological perspectives can come into dialogue, while critically addressing the diversity of artistic research practices across the region.
 

Through its continuing conferences, publications, collaborations, and broader network of practitioners, APARN has developed into an important platform for examining how artistic research responds to the social, cultural, educational, and political contexts of the Asia-Pacific. Its ongoing development reflects a commitment to building a connected yet diverse community that can critically consider the changing nature of artistic practice and research across the region.
 

We welcome proposals for contributions to the channel. Please contact the Director, Roopesh Sitharan, at 

Keep an eye on the APARN website at http://aparn.net and a call will be placed via SAR Announcements - register on the Research Catalogue to receive announcements from the Society for Artistic Research.