Art and Post-Colonial Activism: A Conversation with Richard Bell and Carin Kuoni

Can art have social impact? For years, the artist Richard Bell has been working at the crossroad of art and political issues, advocating for Indigenous sovereignty through activism. Through his multimedia art practice, he addresses the mainstream systemic colonialism that permeates Australian society, a reality that many First Nations people around the world continue to experience. In this conversation, Bell will be joined by Carin Kuoni, Senior Director and Chief Curator of Vera List Center for Art and Politics at the New School, to retrace his journey from activist to artist, and how his work and his role in the Aboriginal art community shapes the discourse on Indigenous and human rights in Australia and beyond.

Viewpoints is an annual series in which prominent, visionary figures in the creative arts are interviewed on-stage before a public audience, about their work, career, and relationship with Asia. Viewpoints has been made possible by the generous support of Aashish and Dinyar S. Devitre.

The program precedes the day-long program of Bell’s ongoing artwork, Embassy (2013–present) that takes place at Asia Society on November 16.

This conversation is part of a series of programs held in conjunction with the “Maḏayin: Eight Decades of Aboriginal Australian Bark Painting from Yirrkala,” on view at Asia Society Museum through January 5, 2025.