How might anthropologists and artists perceive and work with amber? What does it mean to do fieldwork as anthropologists and as artists, and what does “fieldwork” entail for each? How can we learn from each other? In this seminar, Yayi, Laur, and Yong Li shared their research, the way they engage with amber, and their fieldwork practices.
During the seminar, Yayi introduced the overall project Amber Worlds and shared observations and reflections from her fieldwork in Fushun. Laur discussed amber cultures and the history of amber extraction in Burma (Myanmar), as well as its broader resource economy and history. Drawing on some of his creative artworks, Yong Li explored the notions of time and abandonment, and how amber can inspire us to reflect on temporality. The event summary can be found at Wu Space’s WeChat Official Account, Meeting Pool 活动回顾 | 流变中的琥珀：艺术和人类学中的田野