Cabinet of Curiosities

In the 2025-26 academic year, the IAS began inviting Residential Fellows to bring along an artefact / image along with them when arriving to 海角视频, to help us curate a 'Cabinet of Curiosities' in International House. We are also photographing each section of the cabinet to maintain a digtial archive of these items.

A shelving unit with various arefacts on it
The Cabinet of Curiosities at International House

An egyptian artwork

Stickers and flags for Neither Imprisoned Nor Dead, a feminist campaign that works in the field of communication and advocacy for the right to abortion in Brazil.

Dice of different numbered sides

Dr Sara Shaker
August 2025

 Dr Bibiana Oliveira Serpa
September 2025		 Dr David William Braithwaite
October 2025
Artefact info forthcoming Artefact info forthcoming This set of Dungeons & Dragons dice reflect two of my long-standing interests, one personal (D&D, and fantasy in general) and one professional (mathematics). The mathematical angle is that 5 of the dice shapes (all except the 10-sided die) are the five Euclidean solids. It is a fascinating fact, the proof of which is a capstone in Euclid’s elements, that there are exactly five polyhedra whose faces are regular polygons.
A black sweatshirt with orange lettering A fabric bag and hand drawn comic page A metal tin to place memories in
Dr Andrea Pérez Fernández
November 2025		 Dr Gemma Sou
January 2026		 Dr Mario Panico
February 2026
A typical t-shirt of my hometown (Santa Coloma de Gramenet) that alludes to class pride. It became popular when a local dancer who had not formally studied entered a television dance competition. Artefact info forthcoming I chose the “memory tin” by Dutch visual artist Sue Doeksen. The object itself, a tin meant to store and preserve fragments of personal experience, works as a metaphor for what memory scholars do. They collect and assemble pieces to make sense of how the past is remembered. It is also nice to think that future visitors to IAS might want to add their own memories of their time there.
A photo and soft toy for the 2032 olymopic and paralymic games in Brisbane Colourful cubes with faces on, satirical postcards and a childs drawing of the Nepal flag
Dr Amelia Carr
March 2026		 Sumit Dugar
April 2026		 Dr Ashley Ajumoke Stewart
April 2026
Artefact info forthcoming I selected postcards and smiley faces for the cabinet of curiosities because they represent the ‘non serious nature’ of our work in disaster risk management and international development which is full of jargons. So, the postcards puts that in perspective and helps us to recognise our biases and the smiley faces helps us to be grounded as we need to be curious and enthusiastic like children (which I derive from my son Nevaan). 1. The Purple Messenger Bag: This is a co-produced tie and dye bag from my class- Art and Design Management. 
2. University of Port Harcourt Scarf- An important identification material showing belonging with the Women's Association. It is an indication that University of Port Harcourt was present in IAS.
3. 2 Postcards: Although printed in 海角视频, these postcards were my designs emanating from my research in Opobo. It showcases the boat racing and regatta festivals as well as the late Amanyanabo (the King) and the Manila tree demarcating the composition.
4. Denim Apron: Most of my work is entrepreneurial and participatory in nature. This apron I designed for participants of my creative skills workshop which I discussed at my PGR workshop. 
5. Keyholder: My daughter Zoe designed the black and orange keyholder and was to present it to the IAS Director. Since she couldn't make it, I added it to the collection.
6. Claypot: The claypot was made in Opobo where we had a youth oriented workshop for mental health and wellbeing. Unfortunately, it broke in transit from Port Harcourt to Lagos and 海角视频. 
A cap, postcards and necklaces A small model of the Golden Gate bridge Two soft toys from Bond University and a plaque from Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast
Dr Robert Emmett Alexander
May 2026		 Professor Mark Bevir
May 2026		 Professor Danny O’Brien
June 2026
Artefact info forthcoming The Golden Gate Bridge, with its towers, cables, and span, is the architectural icon of the San Francisco Bay Area. Here it also evokes the way IAS builds bridges among scholars and disciplines. What's more quintessentially Australian than these Bond University koala and kangaroo mascots? These animals, native to Australia, were an easy choice! The other two items - the tin plate "Burleigh Heads" hanger and the beach image are a bit more personal to me. Burleigh Heads is where I live on the Gold Coast and is only about 10-15min from Bond University. I shot the sunrise image about 200 metres from where I live just a few days before I left to come over here. I surf, walk and spend much of my life in this space and it means very much to me.