2018

Dias Novita Wuri is an editor of alternative website www.jakartabeat.net, for which she writes non-fiction features. Her first book, Makramé, was published in September 2017. Dias was selected as one of 15 Indonesian Emerging Writers by Ubud Writers & Readers Festival in 2014. Whilst at Varuna and West Words she undertook research for a novel about war and women, particularly as it relates to Korean-Australian and Japanese-Australian communities. Dias also participated in the Sydney Writers Festival as part of her exchange.

Taipei based ceramist Hsian Jung Chen graduated from Goldsmiths College in 2011. Hsian has had solo exhibitions at Pon Ding, Trends and Taimo galleries in Taipei. His work has been included in group exhibitions internationally including Paris, New York, Frankfurt and Bangkok. While based at Fremantle Hsian created a new series of ceramic sculptures and installations made with found objects. This new body of work developed from Hsian's focus on captialism and how it has been changing people's lives locally and internationally.

Chisa Kobayashi has completed studies at ARS Toyama City Institute of Glass Art (2014 & 2012) and Tokyo International Glass Academy (2009). She exhibited at Biennale TOYAMA (2017), Art in Park Hotel Tokyo (2016), Yorozu Gallery Japan (2015) and Art Fair Toyama 2014 where she was awarded a special prize in the Art Award Glass Section. While on exhange Chisa created a number of new large scale works. Chisa presented her new work in the solo exhibition 'In Paradise of Inside the Fence' at Canberra Glassworks July 2018.

Paula Acuin is a curator who has wide knowledge of contemporary art in the region, and an in-depth knowledge of film and video. She currently teaches at the College of Saint Benilde's School of Design and Art (SDA) and is pursing her MA at the University of the Philippines. Paula participated in the Asialink Curatorial South East Asia Exchange. Based at SAMSTAG, Paula worked closely with the curatorial team and shared her own expertise through participation in public programs. Paula and Samstag curator Gillian Brown shared their thoughts and experiences post exchange in a conversation published by OCULA.

Asialink Arts through its Global Project Space initiative facilitated a visual arts exchange between Japan and Australia in partnership with BigCi, 3331 Arts Chiyoda and Move Arts Japan. Japanese artist Shujiro Murayama spent seven weeks at BigCi located in Bilpin, the Blue Mountains, NSW. Here Shujiro created new works and particpated in public programs. Including the BigCi Open Day December 15, personally leading visitors through workshops and hand-on demonstrations.