26th International Conference of the European Association for South Asian Archaeology and Art

From 16 to 20 September 2024, the 26th International Conference of the European Association for South Asian Archaeology and Art (EASAA) will take place in Leipzig – a first for Saxony – under the auspices of the Saxon Academy of Sciences and Humanities. The conference has already been hosted by colleagues in Vienna, Paris, Stockholm and other cities, and was last held in Barcelona in 2022. About 170 to 200 participants from Europe, North America and Asia regularly attend.

Since its establishment over 50 years ago, the EASAA conferences have become the most important European platform for academic exchange between specialists in the art and archaeology of South Asia and neighbouring regions; they have always attracted leading scholars from South Asia and numerous participants from North America and Japan in addition to European colleagues.

Leipzig plays a leading role in the study of art and Buddhism in the Kuča region. The research project of the Saxon Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Leipzig deals with the Buddhist wall paintings of the Kuča region on the northern Silk Road and has become the most important centre of Kuča research outside China. One thematic focus of the conference in Leipzig will therefore be on connections between the centres of Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent, so that colleagues from various Central Asian countries will also take part.

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About

Welcome to the 26th Conference of EASAA, scheduled from the 16th to the 20th of September 2024 in Leipzig, Germany.

The European Association for South Asian Archaeology and Art (EASAA) has been the principal European forum in its field since its foundation in 1970.

The aim of its biannual conference is to bring together and forge links between scholars from around the world working in the disciplines of South Asian archaeology, art history, architecture and heritage and to publish the proceedings, thus creating a permanent resource of information. The EASAA began as the Association of South Asian Archaeologists in Western Europe but in 1993 was re-named European Association of South Asian Archaeologists. Its present name, European Association for South Asian Archaeology and Arts, was adopted in 2010 in recognition of a concern for the history of art and architecture apparent from the start. Its members are those who have attended at least one conference. Membership is not confined to Europeans, but includes scholars from South Asia as well as other regions of the world.

We are delighted to announce the 26th International Conference of the European Association for South Asian Archaeology and Art, set to take place in Leipzig, Germany and hosted by the Saxon Academy of Sciences and Humanities. This prestigious event will bring together scholars to engage in discussions on the latest advancements in the fields of archaeology, art history, architecture, and cultural heritage of South Asia. The conference will be hosted in the lecture hall building of the University of Leipzig at Augustusplatz, one of the central landmarks in the city. We look forward to fostering intellectual exchange and collaboration during this enriching academic gathering.

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Registration (closed)

Please note that presenters who have not completed their registration by 31^st July may lose their timeslot and will not appear in the programme. Exceptions will only be made in provable individual cases, for example if a visa appointment is scheduled for a date between 31^st July and the beginning of the conference or required third-party-funding only becomes available after 31^st July.

¹ Please note that the early bird rate only applies if the payment is made until by the date stated in the confirmation email.
² Students who wish to attend without presenting will need to provide proof of student status in order to qualify for the reduced rate.

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Contact information

For any inquiries or concerns regarding attendance at the conference, please do not hesitate to reach out to the organizing team at easaa-2024@saw-leipzig.de

President of the Association
Prof. Monika Zin
Buddhist Murals of Kucha on the Northern Silk Road, Saxon Academy of Sciences and Humanities / Leipzig University.
Email: zin@saw-leipzig.de

Secretary of the Association
Dr. Vincent Lefèvre
Director of collections and curatorial affairs, Musée national des arts asiatiques - Guimet.
Email: vincent.lefevre@guimet.fr

Coordination
Dr. Ines Konczak-Nagel
Buddhist Murals of Kucha on the Northern Silk Road, Saxon Academy of Sciences and Humanities / Leipzig University
Email: konczaknagel@saw-leipzig.de

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Schedule

Schedule (PDF)

Programme updated on 06 September (PDF)

Book of Abstracts

26th International Conference of the European Association for South Asian Archaeology and Art: schedule

Walking tours on Thursday, 19 September 15:00-17:00

All tours are walking tours with a duration of approximately 1,5 hours and are included in the conference fee. The number of participants for each tour is limited; participation is only possible with a confirmed registration.

• Guided Tour of the Bach-Museum Leipzig and St. Thomas Church

The museum is located in a building which dates back to the early 18th century when it belonged to an intimate friend of Johann Sebastian Bach. It lies opposite to the St. Thomas Church where Bach was cantor.  The museum presents the life and works of Johann Sebastian Bach and his family in an interactive multimedia exhibition covering an area of 750 square metres. One of the highlights is the treasure room, where original Bach manuscripts and other precious items are on display. The showpieces include the console of an organ inspected and approved by Bach himself in 1743 from the erstwhile St John's Church, a casket containing relics from Bach’s tomb, and a recently discovered cash box once owned by the Bach family. Furthermore, the pleasance, the audio room and the Gloria Café and a gift shop are all great places to relax after a busy time in the museum.

• Leipzig - City of Music - Guided tour along the Music Trail

Hardly any other European city can boast such a rich musical heritage as Leipzig. As the birthplace of Richard Wagner and the place where Bach, Mendelssohn Bartholdy, the Schumanns and Mahler worked, Leipzig is a must for music lovers. The musical journey also informs you about the cultural centres, the Gewandhaus and the Opera. The St. Thomas Choir and the Gewandhaus Orchestra continues the magnificent musical tradition. Walking tour around the old town includes a visit to the St Thomas‘s church.

• Peaceful Revolution - The Fall of 1989 in Leipzig

In 1982, when the first idealists came together in St. Nicholas to pray for peace, no one expected these gatherings to be the beginning of a never before seen revolution: the peaceful protesters of the Monday demonstrations went down in history. Our tour will take you to the hot spots of the events of the fall of 1989; e.g. St. Nicholas Church, Augustus Square and the Round Corner, the former regional office of the Ministry for State Security, known as the Stasi.

• Grassi Museum: The State Ethnographic Collections of Saxony and The Museum of Applied Arts

In recent years, the ethnological museums in Europe are in a state of flux. The GRASSI Museum of Ethnology in Leipzig responds to these discourses. Within the framework of our programme REINVENTING GRASSI.SKD the museum will be fundamentaly remodeled. In this tour the new museum concept will be presented and explained. Note: For our guided tour, the curator of the South Asian collection, Dr. Carola Krebs, will join us to introduce us to this part of the exhibition.

• Leipzig city tour

The tour will lead through the city's colourful past and lively present. We will show you the historic city centre: The market place with the impressive Old Town Hall, medieval St. Thomas‘s Church, where composer Johann Sebastian Bach worked, the oldest coffeehouse in Germany - the “Coffebaum” - from 1711, St. Nichola‘s Church, where the Peaceful Revolution of 1989 started, and the unique passage and courtyard system including the legendary traditional restaurant “Auerbachs Keller”. Each place will help you discover more about the diverse traditions, personalities and history of Leipzig.

• Guided tours of Museum für Asiatische Kunst (Asian Art Museum) in Berlin

Supporting events

•  Welcome evening on Monday, 16 September
  18:00 - 20:00 in the foyer between the conference lecture halls of the University
• Bach concert and reception on Wednesday, 18 September
  18:00 - 21:00 in the Auditorium Paulinum of the University

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Useful information

Venue

Google Maps with locations of the conference

Visa Information

To facilitate your travel to Germany from outside of Europe, it is imperative to secure a visa. Our recommendation is to apply for a Schengen Short Term Visa, allowing for a maximum stay of 90 days. For comprehensive and official information, including the list of required documents and application procedures, please refer to the respective diplomatic missions:

• For applicants from India: https://india.diplo.de/in-en/service/-/2633538
• For applicants from Pakistan: https://pakistan.diplo.de/pk-en/service/visa-shortterm/1673126
• For applicants from Bangladesh: https://dhaka.diplo.de/bd-en/service/visa-einreise/-/1976522
• For applicants from Nepal: https://kathmandu.diplo.de/np-en/service/01-VisaEinreise/-/1672492
• For applicants from Thailand: https://bangkok.diplo.de/th-th/service/visa-einreise/schengen-visa/1353056
• For applicants from Sri Lanka: https://colombo.diplo.de/lk-en/service/schengen-visa/1437956
• For applicants from Afghanistan: https://afghanistan.diplo.de/af-en/05-VisaEinreise
  The German Embassy in Kabul is currently closed. As a result, it is not possible to submit a visa application in Kabul. Applications for Schengen Visa (short stay) can be submitted at the German Embassies in Islamabad (https://pakistan.diplo.de/pk-en/service/-/2208620), Dubai (https://uae.diplo.de/ae-en/service/05-VisaEinreise/-/1358934) and Istanbul (https://tuerkei.diplo.de/tr-de/service/05-VisaEinreise/-/1513854).
  
  

Should you require additional assistance, such as a formal letter of invitation including particular information (Passport No., date of birth, etc.) for your visa application, please feel free to reach out to us. We will make every effort to assist you effectively.

Travel to Leipzig

Leipzig, being highly accessible through diverse transportation modes, provides convenient options for participants of the international conference.

By Plane:
Leipzig/Halle Airport (LEJ) serves as a pivotal entry point to the city. Upon arrival, participants can opt for the regional train (S-Bahn), departing every 30 minutes and seamlessly connecting the airport to the city centre. The journey takes approximately 14 minutes.
International flights to Leipzig often include changing to a connecting flight in Frankfurt (FRA), Berlin (BER) or even Munich (MUC). Not only may this cause a considerable increase of the ticket price, it can also extend the duration of the journey, with several hours between both flights. We therefore suggest that you consider flying to Berlin or Frankfurt and take a train from there to Leipzig. Connections from Berlin to Leipzig via Berlin Südkreuz take about 2 hours and cost ca. 50 € one way,
Participants arriving from outside Europe, who land at Frankfurt am Main Airport, Germany, can transfer directly to a long-distance train (ICE) at the airport’s railway station. The train journey to Leipzig takes approximately 3.5 hours.

By Train:
Leipzig is well connected by train, with long-distance trains to various cities across Germany and Europe. The primary train stations, Leipzig Hauptbahnhof (Central Station) in the city centre and Leipzig Messe (Leipzig Trade Fair), ensure effortless access to the conference venue and the city’s extensive transportation network.

By Bus:
For those arriving by coach, the central coach station (Leipzig Fernbus-Terminal) is located right in the city centre next to the Central Station. This terminal offers efficient access to various destinations.

By Car:
Should you prefer private vehicle travel, Leipzig is accessible via well-maintained roadways. The city’s central location in Germany makes it a convenient destination for those driving from nearby cities or countries. If you come by car, we recommend that you book a hotel with parking facilities; there are, however, paid parking areas (for example Q-Park Augustusplatz: 2,20 €/h, max. fee per day 20 €) available in and around the conference venue.

Please note that prices for transportation methods may increase if tickets are reserved shortly before the intended travel date. We highly recommend proactively organizing your trip at the earliest opportunity to ensure access to favourable rates and availability. Additionally, we encourage you to conduct thorough research online to familiarize yourself with the logistics of your journey, such as the transportation options available from the airport of your arrival to the railway station. This proactive approach will contribute to a smoother and well-prepared travel experience.

Local transport in Leipzig:
Leipzig features an extensive and highly efficient public transportation system, encompassing buses, trams, and regional trains (S-Bahn), all meticulously integrated to offer convenient travel options.

Operated by Leipziger Verkehrsbetriebe, the transportation network caters to diverse needs with options such as single tickets, day tickets (valid for 24 hours), weekly season tickets (valid for seven days), and various other alternatives. Detailed pricing information for each ticket type is available at https://www.l.de/en/mobility/tariffs/occasional-travellers/. Tickets can be conveniently obtained through vending machines at tram stations, service centres within the city, or via the designated mobile application (for comprehensive details, please refer to https://www.l.de/en/verkehrsbetriebe/customer-service/buying-your-ticket/). Should you intend to explore additional tourist attractions in the city during the conference period, we recommend considering Leipzig’s welcome cards. These cards include free of charge use of public transport for the selected day(s). For specific details, please refer to https://www.leipzig.travel/en/book/welcome-cards.

Numerous hotels are within walking distance of the conference location; yet, the conference venue is also easily reachable via public transport, with Augustusplatz serving as the nearest station on tram lines 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, and 16. For a more economical and stress-free experience, we recommend the use of multi-travel cards and advance planning of your journey to enhance your overall transportation experience.

Parallel Exhibitions on South Asian Art

You may wish to include a visit to one or more of the exhibitions listed below when you plan your itinerary. Please follow the links for more information on the respective exhibition: 

• Adivasi. The Other India: Museum Wiesbaden, Germany, 19 May 2024 – 6 October 2024
• Money talks: Art, Society & Power. Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, UK, 10 August 2024 – 5 January 2025
• Ragamala: Pictures for all the senses. Museum Rietberg Zurich, Switzerland, 20 September 2024 – 19 January 2025
• Bouddha. L’Expérience du Sensible: Musée Royal de Mariemont, Belgium, 21 September 2024 – 20 April 2025
• Silk Roads: The British Museum, London, UK, 26 September 2024 – 23 February 2025
• Voices from Dunhuang: The British Library, London, UK, 27 September 2024 – 23 February 2025
• Asian Bronze: Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 27 September 2024 – 12 January 2025

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Accommodation

Leipzig is a vibrant city that rose to prominence as a trade hub in the late Middle Ages and boosts a rich cultural heritage of music, art and publishing; in more recent years, it was home to the peoples’ movement that finally led to the reunification of Germany. Today, it hosts a multitude of different events the whole year round. The city welcomes participants of the international conference with a plethora of accommodation options. As the conference dates approach, demand is likely to rise, so we strongly advise securing your lodging at your earliest convenience.
To simplify your booking process, consider using popular accommodation browsers such as Booking.com or Trivago. These platforms allow you to select your preferred lodging on a map and often present multiple offers. Booking early ensures better choices and potentially more favourable rates.
For your convenience, we have compiled a list of hotels and hostels in close proximity to the conference venue. Please be aware that the price ranges given are based on current rates and may increase significantly as the conference dates draw near. To enhance your experience during the conference, we recommend booking your stay as soon as possible.

Hotels

4 stars

• Apartment Central:
  Pfaffendorfer Str. 3, 04105 Leipzig
• Adina Apartment Hotel Leipzig:
  Brühl 50, 04109 Leipzig
• INNSiDE Leipzig: 
  Gottschedstraße 1, 04109 Leipzig
• NH Leipzig Zentrum:
  Burgpl. 5, 04109 Leipzig, located inside the Petersbogen shopping mall
• Royal International Leipzig:
  Richard-Wagner-Straße 10, 04109 Leipzig
• Seaside Park Hotel Leipzig:
  Richard-Wagner-Straße 7, 04109 Leipzig
• Vienna House Easy by Wyndham Leipzig:
  Goethestraße 11, 04109 Leipzig

3 stars

• Best Western Hotel Leipzig City:
  Kurt-Schumacher-Straße 3, 04105 Leipzig
• BIG MAMA Leipzig:
  Kurt-Schumacher-Straße 23, 04105 Leipzig
• Meininger Hotel Leipzig:
  Brühl 69, 04109 Leipzig
• Motel One Leipzig-Augustusplatz:
  Ritterstraße 4, 04109 Leipzig
• Motel One Leipzig-Nikolaikirche:
  Nikolaistraße 23, 04109 Leipzig
• Travel 24 Leipzig:
  Tröndlinring 9, 04105 Leipzig

2 stars

• Hotel Ibis City: 
  Reichsstraße 17, 04109 Leipzig

1 star

• a&o Leipzig Hauptbahnhof:
  Brandenburger Str. 2, 04103 Leipzig

• B&B HOTEL Leipzig-City:
  Nikolaistraße 34, 04109 Leipzig
• Ibis Budget Leipzig City:
  Reichsstraße 19, 04109 Leipzig

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Poster guidelines

We are happy to inform you that we have the resources to print your poster here in Leipzig if you drag and drop the print-ready PDF file into our ONLINE FOLDER before the conference (by 1 September at the latest).

To enhance the appeal of your poster and effectively engage conference attendees, two distinct strategies can be employed:

Concise and Visual Approach:
Craft your poster to be brief, visually captivating, and easy to comprehend. Utilize a design rich in visuals, incorporating as many images as possible (with at least 300 dpi) while minimizing text. This approach is particularly effective in attracting the attention of casual passers-by.
Detailed and Targeted Content:
Alternatively, cater to a more focused audience by incorporating a more extensive amount of text. While this strategy may attract a limited but highly interested group, ensure that the content remains engaging and informative.
In both instances, consider providing a handout, either in the form of an A4 version of the poster or a complementary text page. This can offer the same or additional details and proves beneficial for attendees to take away. Handouts can be distributed during poster manning or made available in a designated pocket at the poster location.
Language:
English is the primary language of the conference and is recommended for successful communication. With a number of excellent translation aids available online, we urge you to make an effort to prepare your poster with English texts. Alternatively, providing a translation as a handout is a viable option.
Content:
Include personal information, affiliation, and contact details on your poster and any handout you provide to facilitate post-conference communication for interested parties. Posters describing specific sites should incorporate a map indicating the location and include the date of the site. Ensure that posters feature clear and straightforward headings to attract passing individuals. Avoid small font sizes and complex tables or diagrams on your poster; keep in mind that particularly during the poster sessions there may be several people viewing your poster at the same time so make sure text can be read from a meter’s distance or so.
Size:
Posters should adhere to a maximum size of DIN A0 panel format (84 cm wide, 119 cm high). Note that due to the movable walls’ format, landscape-oriented posters cannot be accommodated, and need to be organised to fit portrait orientation (vertical).

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Press material

Image material released for use only in connection with reporting / announcement related to the 26th International Conference of the European Association for South Asian Archaeology and Art. To access the images, kindly click here for downloading.

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Sponsors

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