Presented by Cuturi Gallery

Southeast Asia is a region profoundly shaped by its intricate relationship with water. Through its extensive coastlines, riverways, and archipelagos, the region’s fluid frontiers have played a vital role in shaping Southeast Asia’s historical development since ancient times and continue to influence its politics, conflicts, and destiny. 

The Lands Below the Winds weaves together narratives from historical geography and maritime history, exploring the deep connection between the Malay Archipelago and its surrounding seas, the paradoxical role of water as a deadly yet life-giving force, and the sea as both a barrier and a conduit to the world beyond its shores. 

The installation features three canvases that also allude to the indigenous shipbuilding traditions of the past.