Screenings and Forum – Low Tide, High Land: Islands and Moving Images in Asia

In UN maritime law terms, ‘low-tide elevation’ (Chinese and Japanese: 低潮高地; Korean: 간조노출지 干潮露出地; Tagalog: Litaw-kapag-hibas) refers to a naturally formed area of land which is above water and surrounded by water at low tide but submerged at high tide. Transliterally, the event's title plays with the Chinese and Japanese word compositions for the term, inviting broader imagination regarding the relationships between islands, land, tides, and boundaries.

The event, held from 19 to 21 September 2025, was an interdisciplinary gathering that explored the complex representations of islands in Asian contexts through the lens of contemporary art, filmmaking, and other island-related visual practices. Through curated screenings, presentations, and round table discussions, participants examined how these geographical spaces shape narratives, challenge perceptions, and embody historical and cultural complexities.