The DKU Humanities Research Center (HRC) is excited to announce its 2026 Fall Conference, taking place at Duke Kunshan University on August 28–29, 2026!
This year’s theme, “Art at the Margins,” brings together scholars to explore how art, culture, history, and society intersect at the edges of established narratives and perspectives.
We’re thrilled to welcome our keynote speaker, Paul Jaskot, France Family Distinguished Professor of Art, Art History & Visual Studies at Duke University. His talk, “Art History from the Margins: Architecture at War in Nazi-Occupied Europe,” will offer fresh perspectives on the role of art and architecture played in Europe during WWII.
A special highlight is the much-anticipated “Feeling into Form: Art, Movement, and the Making of Empathy” Exhibition Launch & Reception led by Professors Jung Choi and Kolleen M. Guy through the HRC-funded Heritage Lab.
We’re equally excited to feature Travis Wilkerson, Jesse Olsavsky, Titas Chakraborty, Hwa Yeong Wang, Stephanie R. Anderson, Rui Hu, Andrew Wortham, Vivian Xu, Erin Wilkerson, Kolleen M. Guy, and Jung Choi in our faculty panels and roundtable discussions across the two-day event.
Conference Program
Friday, August 28, 2026
10:30–10:45 – Registration and Coffee
10:45–11:00 – Opening Remarks by HRC Co-Directors, carlos rojas and Selina Lai-Henderson, and Dean of Faculty Affairs, Zach Fredman
11:00–12:30 – Keynote Lecture, “Art History from the Margins: Architecture at War in Nazi Occupied Europe.” Paul B. Jaskot, Duke University
Chair: carlos rojas
12:30–14:00 – Lunch
14:00–15:30 – Faculty Panel 1: Film and Work at the Margins of History
Panelists: Travis Wilkerson, Titas Chakraborty, Jesse Olsavsky, Rui Hu
- Travis Wilkerson, An Injury to One Becomes An Injury to All
- Titas Chakraborty, Studying Art for Studying the History of Work
- Jesse Olsavsky, The Center Cannot Hold: Doing Intellectual History From the “Margins.”
- Rui Hu, A Speculative Essay Film from Fluid Histories to Floating Futures
Chair: Keping Wu
15:30–15:45– Coffee Break
15:45–17:15 – Faculty Panel 2: The Scandal of Authorship
Panelists: Stephanie Anderson, Hwa Yeong Wang, Andrew Wortham
- Stephanie R Anderson, Going on Your Nerve: Ted Berrigan’s The Sonnet
- Hwa Yeong Wang, Authorship at the Margins: Gang Jeongildang and Harriet Taylor Mill in Comparative Perspective
- Andrew Wortham, Chaotic Desires- Tracing Gay Men’s Digital Scandals in Contemporary China
Chair: Caio Yurgel
17:30–18:30– “Feeling into Form” Exhibit Launch and Reception
Faculty leads: Professors Kolleen M. Guy and Jung Choi
18:30 – Gala Dinner
Saturday, August 29
10:00–10:45
Special Roundtable 1: “Art at the Margins and the Margins of Art”
Speakers: Vivian Xu, Paul Jaskot, Erin Wilkerson, carlos rojas
Chair: Selina Lai-Henderson
10:45—11:45
Special Roundtable 2: “Feeling into Form: Art, Movement, and the Making of Empathy”
Speakers: Kolleen M. Guy, Tae Eun Kim, Ji Yoon Chun, Jung Choi, Honey Huang, Xinlan Shen, Erine Xu, Goldi Shuwe
Chair: Jung Choi
Scan the QR code on the poster to register for the conference and gala dinner.
We warmly invite the DKU community to join us for two days of inspiring research, fresh perspectives, and engaging conversations as we explore art and ideas from the margins.
