Professor Dr. Anna Karina Hermkens

Biography

Anna-Karina Hermkens is a Senior Lecturer at Macquarie University in the Environmental Law Research Centre. Her research focuses on Cultural Anthropology, Art Anthropology, Historical Anthropology, Museum Studies, Gender Studies, and Religious Studies/Pilgrimage Studies, with significant fieldwork experience in regions including West Papua, the North Moluccas, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. She employs gender analytical tools to investigate issues surrounding identity, power, and changing gender dynamics, particularly in relation to the barkcloth art of the Maisin people and the interplay of religious identity and ideology amid violence and conflict. Additionally, her work addresses eco-conflict and the impact of climate change on indigenous art productions. Anna-Karina is the convener of the ART-Ethnography Lab, focusing on collaborative art projects that arise from ethnographic research. In her teaching, she has convened units such as Law Development and Pacific Cultures, emphasizing ethnography in museum and corporate settings. Her academic involvement includes facilitating multiple presentations, workshops, and organizing conferences.

Research Interests

Experience