Some of the most intellectually engaging questions that we ask about our lives are brought about by encounters with works of art. Moreover, the world we live in is filled with a myriad of images that conveys a range of different, at times conflicting, ideas. How do we make sense of this complex body of materials and knowledge? In simple terms, the study of art history and visual culture can be described as a form of object-based or image-centered cultural history. The things we study as 'artworks' or 'visual objects' often reflect or shape the beliefs and values of the society who make, commissioned and used them.

Besides providing students with the historical and contextual knowledge to understand art and other forms of visual representations, the Master of Arts (Visual Arts) program also develop their visual literacy and interpretive skill-set. Critical analysis is taught to shed light on the political, social, economic, religious contexts in which works or art are made. While our focus is on Malaysia and Southeast Asia, the perspective is nevertheless global in character. Moreover, the study of art and visual culture from a historical perspective engages with may other areas of study, including History, Religion, Literature, Politics, Geography, Anthropology, Architecture, Design, Philosophy, Performance, Film, Television, and Area/Cultural Studies.

Whether one is thinking of a career in the growing heritage, museum, gallery and culture industry, or improving one's writing skills when engaging with visual forms/images, or simply pursuing a life-long dream of independent research and learning, our MA program have a teaching staff covering a wide range of areas and interests, a small classroom environment centered on cohort-building, and a vision to foster independent and critical thinking through the study and research or art history and visual culture. Our academic staff includes scholars with industry experience, networks, and interest in different areas of study, including:

• Malaysian art, architecture, design and visual cultures
• Malay World Islamic art, architecture, design and visual cultures from inter-cultural perspectives
• Southeast Asian art, architecture, design and visual cultures
• Pre-modern Asian art, architecture, design, and visual cultures
• Modern and Contemporary Asian art, design, architecture and visual cultures
• Theories and historiographies of art history
• TV, film and Cinema studies
• Research by practice in the visual arts
• Curatorial, exhibition, and museum studies
• Critical heritage studies
• Art education
• Remediations and intersections of visual forms with literary, performative, theatrical, sonic/musical forms
• Cross-disciplinary study of cultural practices (politics, economy, anthropology/sociology, architecture/urban studies, pure and applied sciences, philosophy, religious studies, geography and digital humanities)

Full-Time Duration: 3 Semesters (Mixed-Mode)