Home | Vol 9 Table of Contents | Previous Issues | Contact Us: 07 55278753 / 0405463663 | Email: judybyronbay@yahoo.com

Queensland Art Gallery secures furture of Asia-Pacific Triennial

The future of the Asia-Pacific Triennial (APT) has been secured with the Queensland Art Gallery Board of Trustees endorsing the continuation of the project into the next decade.

The Fourth Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT4) will feature as the inaugural exhibition of the new Queensland Gallery of Modern Art, which is expected to open in 2005.

Chairman, Queensland Art Gallery Board of Trustees, Mr Wayne Goss, said that within a decade the APT had created an unprecedented international dialogue and created many important cultural links.

"More than a visual arts exhibition, APT has become an event which not only introduces us to the contemporary art of our neighbours, but also challenges us to expand our own boundaries in understanding and appreciating the culture and art of our region," said Mr Goss.

CAI Guo Qiang
View of the watermall with CAI Guo Qiang's
'Blue Dragon & bridge crossing - Project for the Third Asia-Pacific Triennial' 1999

Queensland Art Gallery Director, Doug Hall said, the go ahead for the APT project provides the Gallery with the opportunity to build on the momentum and reputation that the last decade's work has established.

"It also allows us to reflect on the achievements of the project and determine our future engagement with the Asia-Pacific region," said Mr Hall.

"APT4 will continue to provide audiences with an opportunity to experience the innovative and vibrant art of our region.

"One of the most tangible and exciting realisations of the APT has been the strengthening and building of what is now an internationally recognised collection of contemporary Asian art.

"Our commitment over the past ten years has seen the development of a rich network of professional relationships with artists, curators, writers and administrators in the region."

Underpinning the Gallery's expanding collection of contemporary Asian art is the $2 million benefaction as part of the Sidney Myer Centenary Celebration. This benefaction has allowed the acquisition of significant art works by contemporary Asian artists and guarantees the further development and consolidation of the Gallery's Kenneth and Yasuko Myer Collection of Contemporary Asian Art.

In tandem with the endorsement of the APT project, the Queensland Art Gallery Board of Trustees has also announced a major exhibition of contemporary Asian art in 2002.

WAKA COLLECTIVE
View of the Gallery watermall with the WAKA COLLECTIVE (Lisa Reihana, Brett Graham, Chris Booth, Bronwyn Cornish, Ani O'Neill, Marie Shannon, John Pule, Yuk King Tan and Judy Millar) 1996

This innovative exhibition of contemporary Asian art will feature the works of around 20 artists and explore their practice in detail.

It will present a long-awaited, in-depth perspective on recent developments in contemporary Asian art, examining the works of artists and expanding the dialogues established through APT.

"This exhibition provides the Gallery with an ideal opportunity to further harness the enthusiasm of Australian audiences which has been so clearly demonstrated through all three APTs," said Mr Hall.

It will also build on the professional knowledge and expertise that now exists in the Gallery.

Organised by the Queensland Art Gallery, this exhibition will ensure the Gallery's impetus in the field of contemporary Asian art is maintained.