Sovereign Words Explores Indigenous Art and Criticism Through Global Perspectives
"Sovereign Words: Indigenous Art, Curation and Criticism" emerged from a 2018 assembly of 16 Indigenous individuals from three continents, facilitated by Norway's Office for Contemporary Art during the Dhaka Art Summit in Bangladesh. Edited by Katya García Antón and released by OCA/Valiz, this book addresses the marginalization faced by 370 million Indigenous people across 90 countries, mainly in Asia. It explores museums' attempts to transcend traditional Western art narratives. Notable contributions include legal scholar Ánde Somby discussing Indigenous traits, Aboriginal journalist Daniel Browning reflecting on colonial violence, and anthropologist Prashanta Tripura analyzing art's societal connections. Métis professor David Garneau asserts that Indigenous art confronts colonial narratives. Available for €22.50, it appeared in ArtReview's March 2019 edition.
Key facts
- Sovereign Words is a book edited by Katya García Antón, published by OCA/Valiz for €22.50.
- It originated from a 2018 gathering of 16 indigenous peers organized by Norway's Office for Contemporary Art at the Dhaka Art Summit in Bangladesh.
- The book cites 370 million Indigenous peoples worldwide, belonging to 5,000 communities across 90 nation states, with most in Asia.
- Ánde Somby, an indigenous rights law specialist, outlines legal characteristics of Indigenous peoples: marginalization, historical territory, distinctiveness, and self-identification.
- David Garneau, a Métis visual arts professor at the University of Regina in Saskatchewan, Canada, contributes to the discussion on colonial critiques in art.
- Aboriginal journalist Daniel Browning and anthropologist Prashanta Tripura are among the contributors addressing colonial history and cultural dynamics.
- The book questions issues like representation, language, and the integration of Indigenous artifacts into global art narratives.
- It was reviewed in the March 2019 issue of ArtReview, challenging traditional museum displays and Western art histories.
Entities
Artists
- Katya García Antón
- Ánde Somby
- Daniel Browning
- Prashanta Tripura
- David Garneau
Institutions
- Office for Contemporary Art
- Dhaka Art Summit
- OCA/Valiz
- University of Regina
- ArtReview
Locations
- Norway
- Bangladesh
- Dhaka
- Saskatchewan
- Canada
- Asia