Present Encounters : Papers from the conference of the Second Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art, Brisbane, 1996

With assistance of Ai r Niugini Air New Zealand South Bank Corporation CONFERENCE VENUES Queensland Art Gallery B risbane Convention & Exhibition Centre CONFERENCE CONVENORS Dr Caroline Tu rner Dr Russell Trood Rhana Devenport Deputy Di rector, Queensland Art Gallery Director, Centre for the Study of Australia-Asia Relations, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia Senior Project Officer, Second Asia-Pacific Triennial , Queensland Art Gallery QUEENSLAND ART GALLERY The Queensland Art Gallery was established in 1 895 as the State Art Museum. I n recent years the Gallery has consolidated its position as one of the foremost art institutions in Australia and is playing an increasingly important role in initiating and presenti ng significant international exhibitions. By maintaining a strong commitment to Australian visual art of this century and to international projects and exchanges, the Gallery is ideally placed to have in itiated the Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art. The Ga llery has extended this involvement to include a significant Collection of modern and contemporary art of Asia and a substantial database of artists of the reg ion . Publishing, conferences and education are important components of the Queensland Art Gallery's programs. The Second Asia-Pacific Triennial (APT) , 1 996 reflected the Queensland Art Gallery's ongoing commitment to contemporary visual art of the region and bui lds on the a l ready strong relations it has developed between artists, scholars and arts professionals i nternationally. CENTRE FOR THE STUDYOF AUSTRALIA-ASIA RELATIONS The Centre for the Study of Australia-Asia Relations (CSAAR) is an allied centre of the Facu lty of Asian and I nternational Stud ies of Griffith University, Brisbane. It was established in 1 978 to promote research and study into Australia's contemporary relations with Asia . The Centre's research focuses on: Asian immigration i nto Australia, security i n the Asia-Pacific region, Asian perceptions of Australia and Australia's economic relations with Asia. The Centre has an extensive publications program and seeks to expand understanding of Australia's relations with the countries of its region through workshops, seminars, public lectures and symposia. It also offers business tra i n i ng , research fellowships and consultancy services to government, commercia l and commun ity organisations. 7