From the perspective of a media researcher, I’m currently investigating screen culture from silk screens to digital screens across North Asia. This research extends out of a lifetime involvement with the media industry but is inspired by a passionate interest in Chinese and Japanese screen cultures and digital arts. I’m a keen advocate of cultural collaboration and exchange across the Asia Pacific Region in which I was born. This site is one of a series of projects addressing these interests.
Related concerns are taken up in my arts practice located here: hughdavies.net
And in my academic research – some of which is here: Academia
I’ve also been active in delivering events addressing Asia-Pacific Cultural exchange.
In 2013, I was successfully funded through DFAT’s Australia China Council Grant to present a Festival of Chinese Digital Literature and Translation as part of the 2014 Melbourne Writers Festival. The event flew over out three prominent media workers from China, as well as presenting workshops and panels from local writers and translators in partnership with the Melbourne Writers Festival, the La Trobe Confucius Institute and the Marco Polo Project. Later in 2014, I undertook a lecturing and research residency at the East China Normal University (ECNU) and delivered presentations at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and the New York University of Shanghai.
In 2015, I directed and presented a Festival of Australian Cinema at the East China Normal University. I now present lectures in Chinese art and digital culture within university and gallery contexts including at the Ink Remix touring exhibition and for the Ai Weiwei / Andy Warhol exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria.
In addition to my travel and academic research in Asia, I have family in Japan and divide my time between Melbourne and Tokyo.
Having held numerous academic positions at Australian Universities including senior lecturer in Media Studies at La Trobe University from 2012 until 2016, I now work as a co-ordinator within Media and Communications at RMIT. Additionally, I maintain positions on the Board of the Freeplay Independent Gaming Festival and as advisor for the Channels Festival of Video Art.
