APT Bulletin Vol.1 No.2

• • ASIA - PAC I FIC TR I ENNIAL BULLETIN Vo l. 1. No . 2. 1992 Queensland Art Gallery FIRST ASIA-PACIFIC TRIENNIAL OF CONTEMPORARY ART: AUSTRALIA 1993 INTRODUCTION In December 1990 the Premier of Queensland, the Honourable Wayne Goss, M.L.A. announced that the Queensland Art Gallery would host a series of major exhibitions on the contemporary art of the Asia Pacific region. In the nearly two years since that announcement it has become clear that the Asia-Pacific Triennial is developing into a significant international art event. Interest in the project has come from throughout the Asia Pacific region, Europe and North America. THE CONCEPT The Queensland Art Gallery has undertaken to stage three Triennial exhibitions this decade - in 1993, 1996 and 1999. Twelve countries and Hong Kong will be represented in the inaugural exhibition to be held in Brisbane from 18 September to 5 December 1993. Included are Australia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, The Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. This first exhibition will present the work of over sixty artists and include painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, performance and installation art. The Gallery's Water Mall, diffused with natural lightingfromskylitceilings, dramaticallyhighlightedworks inthe exhibtion 'JapaneseWaysWestern Means', The Gallery hopes that the Asia-Pacific Triennial will become a major vehicle for the exhibition, promotion and discussion of Asian, Pacific and Australasian contemporary art. The project, which will also bring together artists and distinguished academics and art critics from the region in a Conference and workshops to coincide with the exhibition, offers significant opportunities to establish the groundwork for further exchanges. The decision to focus on contemporary art has been applauded from within the region as • providing an opportunity to bring a thefirst majorexhibitionofJapanese contemporaryart to bedisplayed in Australia. new dimension to cultural interchange and challenge some pre-existing stereotypes. The Triennial aims to provide a forum for the exhibition of distinctive views in contemporary visual arts of the Asia Pacific region and to build a continuing dialogue and professional relationships based on mutual respect.