Contemporary Ar(t)chaeology

Contemporary Ar(t)chaeology explores the methodologies, reinterpretations, and re-examinations of the past. Through the lens of contemporary Ar(t)chaeology — a melding of art with the essence of archaeology — it explores how artistic research can propose an alternative methodology that challenges established historical narratives and presents the possibility of reimagining history.

The artistic approach takes an emancipatory stance, challenging and bringing forward micro-histories that highlight aspects of known historical narratives.

Contemporary Ar(t)chaeology is a journey towards investigating the past. The exploration isn’t just about grand events or dominant narratives; it equally focuses on micro-stories—those that, for one reason or another, have been overshadowed or hidden in the fringes of our collective consciousness.

Through their artistic investigations, Contemporary Ar(t)chaeology proposes that the past, with its myriad stories and events, is not merely a static backdrop. It pulsates, intertwining with the present and sending ripples into the future. This dynamic relationship calls for a sensitive method of inquiry to challenge and rethink established historical narratives. Through careful, nuanced artistic exploration, concealed fragments of history reveal themselves, emerging from the shadows of conventional understanding. The past, though seemingly dormant, is teeming with life — a "dead-alive" entity resurfacing in our present, shaping the trajectories of our futures.

Thus, our approach to history should be akin to extending hospitality: welcoming these marginalised narratives, allowing them their rightful space in the grand tapestry of time, and recognising that they, too, shape our understanding of the world.