Academia | Desiree Dibasen !Nanuses

Academia

Engaging with art history, cultural studies and decolonial theory through research and teaching.

Papers & Conferences

International Conference on African Cultures

Presented a paper titled: Interrogating Curatorship of human remains and religious objects at the 2021 International Conference on African Cultures representing Namibia

Hosted by the National Gallery of Zimbabwe.

Watch Presentation on YouTube ↗

Academic Focus

My academic research is situated at the intersection of curatorial practice, decolonial theory, and the preservation of cultural heritage. Focusing on the representation of Namibian history and identity, I explore how museums and galleries can serve as sites of negotiation and transformation in post-colonial contexts.

Through teaching, writing and public engagement, I work to challenge dominant narratives and create space for alternative ways of understanding art, culture and history.

Key Areas

African Art History — Re-examining the historical canon through African-centred perspectives, drawing on archives, oral traditions and living cultural practices.

Decolonial Theory — Engaging with decolonial frameworks to understand and critique museum practice, art education and cultural institutions.

Visual Culture Studies — Investigating how images, objects and spaces produce meaning in contemporary post-colonial societies.

Gender & Representation — Research into the intersection of gender, identity and artistic representation in Namibian and African contexts.

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