Who owns art, and who gets to share it?

In episode 17 of Asia Forward, host Ei Thant Sin speaks with Joanna Gohmann, Associate Curator of Provenance & Object Histories at Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, about how museums approach questions of ownership, provenance, repatriation and shared stewardship.

Gohmann explains how researchers trace the movement and ownership of objects over time, what can be lost when artifacts are removed without proper documentation, and why legal ownership and ethical responsibility do not always lead to the same answer.

The conversation looks closely at Cambodia, where the museum recently returned three sculptures after provenance research indicated they most likely left the country during the Khmer Rouge period. Gohmann also discusses the museum’s ongoing work with Cambodian partners, including joint research and the continued display of some Cambodian objects through collaboration and loans. One example is the monumental 11th-century bronze Vishnu Reclining on the Serpent Ananta, now on loan to the museum from the National Museum of Cambodia as part of the Vishnu’s Cosmic Ocean exhibition.

The episode also explores the museum’s partnerships with Indonesian museums, the importance of Southeast Asian art to diaspora communities, Burmese Kammavaca manuscripts in the collection, and the Prehistoric Spirals exhibition featuring ancient earthenware from Thailand.Gohmann also reflects on how partnerships with researchers and institutions in Southeast Asia are changing the way museums study, interpret and care for collections, and why those relationships matter for the future of provenance research.

0:25 Introduction

1:33 What is provenance research?

2:54 Why an object’s ownership history matters

4:19 How researchers trace an object’s journey

6:50 What gets lost when art is removed from its context

9:08 How the Smithsonian traced Cambodian sculptures

10:02 What repatriation means for Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art’s U.S.-Cambodia museum partnership, what Cambodia got back and what remains on display

14:03 How Smithsonian’s NMAA also partners with Indonesian museums

15:55 Who should decide where cultural objects belong?

19:23 How Burmese manuscripts at Smithsonian’s NMAA show why Southeast Asian art matters to diaspora communities

21:04 How Smithsonian’s NMAA partnerships benefit the museum and its counterparts

22:06 How Smithsonian’s NMAA researchers study ancient Thai earthenware

24:22 What drew Joanna Gohmann to Asian art and provenance research

26:58 Where Smithsonian’s NMAA U.S.-Southeast Asia museum partnerships go next

Vietnam is Southeast Asia's fastest-growing economy and, as Ted Osius, a former U.S. ambassador to Vietnam, puts it, already a "tiger" of the region.

In this episode of Asia Forward, Osius joins Ledy Simarmata to discuss what is driving Vietnam's growth, why foreign companies are investing there and what U.S. businesses should understand before entering the market.

The conversation looks at the legacy of Đổi Mới, how those reforms helped shape Vietnam’s economic growth and why advanced technology including artificial intelligence is emerging as the most promising sector fas it works to build a more highly skilled workforce. Osius also discusses the country’s efforts to reduce bureaucracy, improve transparency and address corruption, including how the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act influences how American companies operate in Vietnam.

The conversation also explores Vietnam’s infrastructure needs and the role of the new Vietnam International Financial Center. The episode covers how the China Plus One strategy benefits Vietnam and how the country balances its economic relationships with both the United States and China.

Osius draws on more than three decades of experience with Vietnam, including his time as U.S. ambassador, his work at Google Asia-Pacific and his tenure as president and CEO of the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council.

0:27 Introduction

1:57 How Ted Osius developed personal ties with Vietnam.

3:49 How Vietnam became Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing economy.

4:31 What Đổi Mới changed for Vietnam.

6:24 How Vietnam’s socialism coexists with an open business environment.

7:41 How technology and investment are shaping Vietnam’s next phase.

10:27 How American business has become increasingly interested in Vietnam.

12:11 What American business confidence in Vietnam looks like today.

15:00 How the China Plus One strategy is benefiting Vietnam.

18:40 How Vietnam ranks in the Transparency International Corruption Index

22:43 What Foreign Corrupt Practices Act means for U.S. businesses in Vietnam.

24:26 What the Vietnam International Financial Center (VIFC) could mean for investors.

27:27 Whether Vietnam has the skilled workforce for its next stage of growth.

30:10 Where U.S. companies may find the biggest opportunities in Vietnam.

33:19 How Vietnam balances its economic ties with the U.S. and China.

35:08 How American businesses can compete in Vietnam

36:11 What Vietnam’s economy could look like in the next 5-10 years.

Cambodia has drawn international attention over online scam centers, human trafficking and organized crime, raising concerns about the country’s reputation among investors and travelers. At the same time, its digital economy is growing, new industries are developing and the United States remains Cambodia’s largest export market.

In this episode of Asia Forward, host Ei Thant Sin speaks with Christopher McCarthy, Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia about what American businesses should know before investing in the country.

They discuss the government’s crackdown on scam centers, the sharp decline in tourism and the impact of the border conflict with Thailand. McCarthy also talks about China’s large investment presence, where U.S. companies can compete, Cambodia’s digital payments sector and what the country needs to do to attract more American investment.

Chapters:

0:35 Introduction2:22 How has Cambodia’s economy changed in the past decades?

3:52 Does Cambodia have the workforce businesses need?

5:16 How have scam centers affected U.S. businesses?

6:46 How is Cambodia cracking down on online scams?

8:59 How have scam centers hurt Cambodia’s reputation and tourism?

12:27 Why is Cambodia still attractive to U.S. investors?

13:27 Have Cambodia’s scam center crackdowns eased investor concerns?

14:32 Which sectors offer the biggest opportunities for U.S. businesses?

16:03 Can U.S. businesses compete with China in Cambodia?

18:01 How advanced is Cambodia’s digital economy?

20:14 How does Cambodia’s dollarized economy benefit businesses?

21:39 What role can the Cambodian diaspora play?

23:26 What should U.S. companies know before entering Cambodia?

25:25 How to find a local partner in Cambodia?

26:07 What could Cambodia’s business environment look like in 10 years?