Contemporary art in the present moment is a refutation of the perverse dream that society and culture can be walled off and flourish in a self-made oasis. The artistic projects in the Asia Society Triennial: We Do Not Dream Alone trace the lines and trajectories that link people, objects, and ideas across history and geography. “Local” culture is a palimpsest of previous historical encounters with other “local” cultures that continues to be in dialogue, struggle, and exchange with other cultures. Rather than using the more common term “globalization,” which is haunted by the shadow of uniformity and the destruction of difference, we follow Jean-Luc Nancy in using the term “mondialisation,” as a reference to world-forming. In this curatorial lecture, Triennial Artistic Director Boon Hui Tan presents his artistic concept and guiding themes through a close reading of artworks in the inaugural Asia Society Triennial.