Glossary

Male gaze

The male gaze is the manner of treating women's bodies as objects to be surveyed, which is associated by feminists with hegemonic masculinity, both in everyday social interaction and in relation to their representation in visual media. Recommended reading: 'Feminisms and Contemporary Art in Indonesia' by Wulan Dirgantoro. Source: tate.org.uk. AWDB highlighted artist: Citra Sasmita.

Medium

Painting, sculpture, drawing and printmaking are all mediums of art in the sense of a type of art. However, the term can also refer to the materials of the work. For example, a sculpture in the medium of bronze or marble; a painting in the medium of oil paint on canvas, tempera on panel or watercolour on paper; a drawing in the medium of graphite or crayon; a print in the medium of etching or lithography; performance art uses the artist’s own body as the material or medium. The term medium also refers to the liquid in which the pigment is suspended to make paint. So, the medium of the medium of oil paint is linseed oil. Source:tate.org.uk. AWDB highlighted organisation: STPI.

Microhistory

Microhistory is a genre of history that focuses on the detailed study of a specific subject, such as a single event or individual, rather than attempting to present a broad or generalised account of a period or movement. Within Southeast Asian contemporary art, it is used by artists to shed light on the intimate, overlooked, or locally grounded narratives of SEA history that Westernised history often leaves out. By tracing small-scale events, artists can explore history on a human scale, particularly in the wake of colonial legacies, migration, and post-national identities. Source: AWDB Team. AWDB Highlighted Artist: Anthony Chin.

Mixed media

Mixed media works are composed of different media. Essentially art can be made of anything or any combination of things. Source:tate.org.uk. AWDB highlighted artist: Pam Virada.

Modernism

Modernism refers to a global movement in society and culture that from the early decades of the twentieth century sought a new alignment with the experience and values of modern industrial life. Building on late nineteenth-century precedents, artists around the world used new imagery, materials and techniques to create artworks that they felt better reflected the realities and hopes of modern societies. Source: tate.org.uk. AWDB highlighted artist: Chin Wan Kee.

Moniker

A moniker is an alternative name used to establish a persona, which an artist may use to convey their personal identity or embody a particular characteristic of their work. By creating a moniker, artists encapsulate their identity and style. For example, Singaporean artist Hafiiz Karim is better known by his moniker ‘The Next Most Famous Artist’, which he uses to poke fun at the societal drive for fame and success. In some cases, an artist’s moniker is distinct from their personal identity, so they can experiment with various styles, mediums, and narratives without constraints. Source: AWDB team. AWDB highlighted artist: Mulyana.

Monograph

A monograph is known as the study of an artist's lifetime and oeuvre and is illustrative of an artist's practice. Although many artists have produced vast bodies of work over their lifetimes, monographs endeavour to identify and review a particular body of work or project that embodies the artist’s research in its totality, conveying the heart of their aesthetic style and methodology. Source: AWDB team. AWDB highlighted artist: Lilibeth Cuenca Rasmussen.

Multimedia

Multimedia artworks are mixed media works that combine electronic elements such as music, performance, film, lighting, video, audio, and computers. Source: AWDB team. AWDB highlighted artist: Iswanto Hartono.