The Launch of the SEA-Collections Digital Exhibition: Celebrating Shared Maritime Histories
The Launch of the SEA-Collections Digital Exhibition: Celebrating Shared Maritime Histories
12/12/24, 05.00
The SEA-Collections Digital Exhibition was officially launched today, presenting the maritime histories of Southeast Asia and Australia through innovative approaches that transcend traditional nation-state narratives. Featuring 25 objects from eight museums across the two regions, the exhibition reflects the collaborative efforts of more than 80 contributors.
The exhibition has been made possible through generous support from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s ASEAN-Australia Centre, with additional support from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Opening the event, Carlo White of the ASEAN-Australia Centre (AAC) emphasized the vision behind the SEA-Collections initiative, stating:
"The Centre's goal is simple: bring Australia and Southeast Asia closer together. This means stronger ties between our businesses, institutions, and communities. As this exhibition shows, it is also an opportunity to create new stories and connections, building on the centuries of shared history between us."
The SEA-Collections Digital Exhibition builds on insights from the Significance and Interpretation Workshops conducted with museum professionals from Thailand, Indonesia, Brunei, and the Philippines. These workshops along with online sessions to discuss cross-cutting themes and the exhibition design concept. These activities were facilitated with support from the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre (SSEAC) at the University of Sydney, in collaboration with Southeast Asia Museum Services (SEAMS).
The event featured a virtual tour of the exhibition's themes and objects. Dr. Natali Pearson and Andrew Henderson shared insights into the curatorial process behind the development of the six interconnected themes: Seafaring and Beliefs, Trade Networks and Goods, Women at Sea, Shipwrecks, Animals and Their Maritime Significance, and Colonialism and Its Legacies. Representatives from the eight participating museums then provided insights into the objects from their collections that were selected for the exhibition.
Digital Exhibition offers a platform for exploring the shared maritime histories of Southeast Asia and Australia. It invites visitors to discover the interconnected stories that have shaped the region's cultural and historical legacies, fostering ongoing collaboration and understanding between cultural institutions.
Visit the digital exhibition at https://seaexhibition.com/ to experience this celebration of maritime heritage.