Friday with Friends!

Propaganda and Dissent in Asian Art
Patricia Welch

This talk explores themes of propaganda, protest and dissent in Asian art, focusing on how artists across Asia have used visual expression to challenge political regimes, social injustices, and cultural norms, at times navigating censorship and repression to communicate their messages. Through historical and contemporary examples from China, Vietnam, India, Myanmar, South Korea, and Indonesia, it also highlights the unique strategies artists employ to resist authoritarianism, support ideologies, and inspire dialogue. By situating these works in broader political and cultural contexts, the talk reveals art’s enduring role as a powerful tool for both propaganda and resistance.

About the speaker


Patricia Bjaaland Welch is a former Lecturer in Chinese history & art at Boston University and the University of Oslo. After a career in the private sector as regional head of marketing for American Express, McKinsey & Company, ABN AMRO Bank, and others, she returned to her academic love: Asian studies. Today she is an independent art historian and the author of several books, including Chinese New Year (Oxford University Press) and Chinese Art: A Guide to Motifs and Visual Imagery (Tuttle), and is a frequent contributor to Arts of Asia. She has homes in both Bangkok and Singapore, where she has resided for the past 30 years.


^{Image: Betel box. Tangyi, Pagan, early 20th century. Lacquered, woven split bamboo. © The Trustees of the British Museum, 1998,0723.76}

Organised by the Friends of the Museums (FOM) with support from ACM