The Cultural Impact of Globalization on Indonesia During the Age of Spices 1500-1800

View from the Shore: the cultural impact of globalization on Indonesia during the Age of Spices 1500-1800

The first Europeans arriving in the Indonesian archipelago in the 16th century encountered wealthy kingdoms whose maritime networks stretched halfway around the globe. In the great port emporiums of Banten, Makassar and Banda Aceh were Middle Eastern, South and East Asian merchants trading in spices as well as imported luxury products, such as brilliantly dyed Indian textiles and Chinese porcelain. In this lecture, James Bennett will explore the sophisticated cultural milieu of the Islamic sultanates, whose art forms defined an era known as the age of the pesisir, meaning ‘coastline’, and the subsequent impact of European colonisation on the archipelago’s artistic dynamism.

James Bennett is Curator of Asian Art at the Art Gallery of the South Australia and co-curator of the recent widely acclaimed exhibition Treasure ships: Art in the age of spices. His previous major exhibition and catalogue publications include Crescent Moon: Islamic art and civilisation of Southeast Asia (2005), The Golden Journey: Japanese art from Australian collections (2009), Beneath the winds: Masterpieces of Southeast Asian art (2011) and Realms of wonder: Jain, Hindu and Islamic art of India (2013). James Bennett is currently researching a University of Adelaide doctorate examining the role of Indian trade textiles in the transmission of Islamic art styles to Indonesia with reference to the Michael Abbott AO QC collections.

How to Book: Bookings essential. Email Gill Green (gillians@ozemail.com.au) or call Gill (0466 977 313).

How to Pay:

1. By EFT to our bank account with “your name Bennett” as reference:

Account Name: The Asian Arts Society of Australia

BSB: 012 003

Account Number: 2185 28414

2. Via this website – see Bookings button above right.