The parable of the blind men and the elephant serves as a powerful metaphor for understanding the complexities of perception, knowledge, and truth. Each blind man, touching a different part of the elephant, forms a distinct interpretation of the whole based on their limited perspectives. This story highlights the tension between individual experience and collective understanding, urging us to consider how fragmented perspectives can both obscure and illuminate the ‘bigger picture.’

In this artist talk, we explore the theme of wholeness and fragmentation through the lens of contemporary art and technology. How do artists navigate the interplay between individual and collective perspectives? How can art challenge our assumptions about truth, reality, and understanding? Drawing inspiration from Huw Lemmey’s essay ‘The Blind Hanna,’ this talk invites artists to reflect on their creative processes, the role of perspective in their work, and how art can bridge the gap between the personal and the universal.

Ho Rui An re-examines the contemporary world through fragmented archival materials in his project, Figures of History and the Grounds of Intelligence (2024). By delving into the interventions of history and politics, he explores how recent ideologies and colonial imprints have shaped his understanding of the present, generating a critical narrative that interrogates his discoveries and opens up discursive possibilities.

Jooyoung Oh delves into the history of the literary girls of Korea, reimagining and recontextualising their forgotten voices through a contemporary perspective. In fragments and segments, she brings these overlooked narratives into the present, offering a fresh lens to explore their significance and relevance for today’s world.

Wu Zi Yang’s Future Forecast exemplifies the exploration of how technology shapes perception through its speculative reimagining of the world. His work reveals the imprints of telecom infrastructure and its far-reaching impact, shaped by cross-geographical policies, producing a form of ‘truth’ in his virtual universe that remains invisible in the material world.

Eldwin Pradipta’s projection mapping focuses on capturing non-flattened surface objects through the lens of a grassroots metaphor, emphasising intangible, non-monetary values in his artistic approach. By creating scenarios that challenge the notion of stable truths, he questions the market value and commercialisation of art.

Jeong Ok Jeon directs Arcolabs in Indonesia, an initiative dedicated to fostering cultural exchange between Indonesian art and the global stage. Embracing Indonesia’s cultural ideology of collectivity and collaboration, she actively promotes collaboration and knowledge-sharing, strengthening connections and mutual understanding across borders.

Bilguun Tuvshinbold builds connections and fosters a deeper understanding of Mongolia’s recent modernisation by inviting diverse parties to engage in dialogue. His work highlights the power of shared knowledge and collective action in shaping the nation’s evolving identity, underscoring the complexity of achieving a truly shared understanding.