DR Stephen Murphy
| Biography | Stephen A. Murphy specializes in the art and archaeology of Buddhism and Hinduism in first millennium CE Southeast Asia with a focus on Thailand and Laos. He has a particular interest in the 7th to 9th centuries CE as well as maritime connectivity between Southeast Asian cultures, Tang China, and the Indian Ocean world in general. His museological focus engages with issues of restitution and curation of Asian art. Stephen joined the School of Arts in November 2020. Prior to this he was Senior Curator for Southeast Asia and curator-in-charge of the Tang Shipwreck Gallery at the Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapore (2013-2020). From 2011-2013 he was a research associate at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York for the Lost Kingdoms: Hindu-Buddhist Sculpture of Early Southeast Asia exhibition (April 14–July 27, 2014). During his time as Senior Curator for Southeast Asia at the Asian Civilisations Museum, Stephen curated three special exhibitions and two permanent galleries including Raffles in Southeast Asia: Revisiting the Scholar and Statesmen (1 February – 28 April 2019); Angkor: Exploring Cambodia’s Sacred City, masterpieces of the Musée national des arts asiatique—Guimet (8 April – 22 July 2018) and Cities and Kings: Ancient Treasures from Myanmar (5 Dec 2016 – 5 March 2017). In 2015 he curated the Tang Shipwreck Gallery, housing the Tang Shipwreck Collection comprising of a remarkable cargo of more than 60,000 ceramics produced in China for export to the Middle East during the Tang dynasty (618–907). As an undergraduate at Trinity College Dublin, Stephen read Ancient History and Archaeology at the Department of Classics and minored in Biblical and Theological studies at the School of Religion. He did his MA at the Department of History of Art and Archaeology, SOAS in 2001-2002. For a number of years before and after this, he worked as a professional field archaeologist in both Ireland and the UK. He returned to SOAS from 2006 – 2010 to undertake his doctoral studies. His thesis, The Buddhist Boundary Markers of Northeast Thailand and Central Laos, 7th-12th centuries CE: Towards an understanding of the archaeological, religious and artistic landscapes of the Khorat Plateau, documented the spread of Buddhism into this region and its subsequent development by focusing specifically on Buddhist boundary markers (Thai, sema/เสมา; Pāli, sīma). |
|---|---|
| Research Interests | Archaeology of Hindu-Buddhist Southeast Asia, shipwrecks, Indian Ocean World, Restitution and repatriation. Museum Studies in Southeast Asia |
| Teaching and Learning | PROGRAMMES CONVENED •MA Curating Cultures 2021-24 •Curating Myanmar and Northern Thailand (23 May to the 11 July, 2024), short course, SOAS, Alphawood Postgraduate Diploma in Asian Art •Art and archaeology of the Indian ocean world (2025) -SOAS-Alphawood Postgraduate Diploma in Asian Art (2 Feb – 24 March 2025). •Art and Religion in Southeast Asia (27 – 30th May 2025). MODULES TAUGHT •Collecting and Collections (UG) •Museums and Museology (UG) •Spaces of Art (UG) •Curating Cultures (MA) •Curating the Sacred: Buddhism and Hinduism on display (MA) •Asia and Africa on Display (MA) •Art and Archaeology of Maritime Southeast Asia (MA) |
| PhD Supervision Availability | Yes |
| PhD Topics | Hindu-Buddhist Southeast Asia Maritime Southeast Asia and its interactions with the Indian Ocean World Museum studies with a Southeast Asia focus Southeast Asian shipwrecks Restitution and repatriation issues in Southeast Asia |