Building on multiple public-facing initiatives by the Under The Banana Tree (UTBT) Archival Network since 2025 which transpired in the form of webinar series and blog writing, there is a strategic need to collectively explore the archival praxis from Southeast Asia.
With the broad themes of strengthening grassroots and civil archives in the region, the three days workshop (26 – 28 February 2026) comprised of presentations, archival showcase, inaugural zine distribution to public seminar which involved almost 40 local and international participants. The workshop was hosted by the Faculty of Liberal Art, Thammasat University, Thailand.
Designed in the form of open-workshop which consisted of presentations and practical sharing of technical know-how, it delves into multiple challenges facing the independent archival network in the region. By focusing on best practices rooted on the experience of each participants, it explores range of subjects. From confronting the questions of limited resources, scales of dissemination to the ethics of archiving, the presentation offers multifarious tangents to the archival praxis in the region.
Deriving from diverse archival practitioners, the workshop offered interdisciplinary approaches to archival materials. Quite often, each organisation developed different articulation in utilising its repositories; in the form of photography, printed materials, oral documentation to how it should be disseminated. The question of positionality also continuously being tackled, given multiple nature of materials that the archival network is engaging with. From the conflict-ridden geography to the emerging of data-based documentation, the workshop is far from being able to provide an answer. Rather, it provide a space for reflection in continuous process of solidarity.
In doing so, the workshop has to go beyond merely the act of conservation and digitization. With such awareness, there is a need to intertwine such practices through an engaging walking tour in visiting multiple spaces in Bangkok. Beyond phyiscal sites, the experience connected the participants to Thailand’s democracy movements and historical violence, along the route from Thammasat University to Ratchadamnoen Avenue. Here, Anon Chawalawan, as one of the workshop’s co-organisers shared with us how spaces are continuusly contested, commemorated, or silenced in the process of appearing (or disappearing) of collective memories.
Under Banana Tree Zine #1: Archival Fragments
As an emerging archival network, UTBT also published its first zine in conjunction with the workshop. Deriving from the assemblages of archival praxis within the Southeast Asian-based network, the zine entitled ‘Archival Fragments’ brings together multiple contributions in the forms of illustrations, texts, printed materials, images, and objects. The publication also reflects on a practical podcast-making process, community-based engagements and offers tools for collective learning that evoke the idea of the archive as methodology. The zine can be accessed HERE.
Under The Banana Tree Archival Network Public Seminar – Records of Resistance: Looking Through Writings of Political Prisoners & Stories of Torture Survivors
In drawing attention to multiple forms of archival resources: from letters, writing materials, testimonials and lived experiences of political detainees and torture survivors, the public seminar provides insights to the process of confronting the traumatic past, present and future within our milieu. The talk centres the ongoing works of Tyrell Haberkorn (Plaenert-Bascom Professor of Southeast Asian Studies, University of Wisconsin–Madison), Anchana Heemmina (Duayjai Association for Humanitarian Affairs, Thailand) and Ita Fatia Nadia ( Ruang Arsip dan Sejarah Wanita (RUAS), Indonesia). The session was moderated by Anon Chawalawan from the Museum of Popular History, Thailand)
Kindly access the full recording HERE
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This workshop is co-organised by Under The Banana Tree Archival Network, October 6 Museum Project, Deep South Museum and Archives, Museum of Popular History, Pusat Sejarah Rakyat and received generous support and funded by the International Institute of Social History, Netherlands.
Bangkok’s UTBT Workshops Participants:
i) Organisations
Pusat Sejarah Rakyat / Malaysia Design Archive / Imagined Malaysia / Museum of Popular History / Deep South Museum and Archives / October 6 Documentation Group / Thai Grassroot’s Women Archives / Thai Labour Museum / Thai Lawyer for Human Rights / Namkheun Collective / Documentation of Human Rights Violation against Children Youth in Deep South Thailand / Duayjai Group / Jaringan Mangsa Dari Undang-Undang Darurat (JASAD) / The Philippine Labor Movement Archive / Sama-samang Artista para sa Kilusang Agraryo / KUNCI Study Forum and Collective / Institute of Indonesian Socialist History / Kolektif Arungkala / Ruang Arsip & Sejarah Wanita
ii) Individuals
Jason Soo, Filmmaker