Works on Paper as Agents of Intermedial Translation and Cultural Exchange.

The Colnaghi Foundation and Athena Art Foundation in London are delighted to announce a symposium on 25th September 2025, exploring how works on paper were used to construct meaning and identity, and engendered the intermediary exchange of artistic ideas, during the period of global empire and colonisation. The symposium will be hosted both online and in the Colnaghi Gallery in London (although no travel grants are available). Papers can be given in English, and we welcome submissions in other languages with prior agreement. A selection of papers will be published in English in the 18th issue of the peer reviewed Colnaghi Studies Journal (the foundation will be responsible for the translation of foreign language papers that are selected for publication in the journal).

The organisers invite contributions of 5,000 words in length highlighting new discoveries or current research touching upon topics such as:

- The use of works on paper to visualise empire, its artistic traditions, places, and people
- Translations and transformations of works on paper about empire into other artistic media
- Works on paper and their intermedial translations in the context of global trade
- Collecting practices and/or the formation/impact of collections in/on colonies
- Questions of production, appropriation, and translation involving works on paper in relation to Indigenous populations
- Representation of the natural world, race, and gender
- Studies that consider the material significance of works, especially where materials are specific to local areas
- Printed books and ephemera
- Conservation

The organisers encourage a wide range of submissions, and we will consider those which develop this concept beyond works on paper to discuss other artistic mediums within the scope of the topic.

Those interested to take part are invited to submit a 500-word abstract in English and 100-word bio by 5th May, via email to journalcolnaghi.com The organisers will send out confirmations to successful participants by 16th May. Authors of papers selected for publication will have three to four weeks to finalise their texts following the conference.