The Second Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art, Brisbane, Australia, 1996 : Report

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES AND HOW THEY WERE MET Aims and Objectives: Second Asia-Pacific Triennial • To present in an international context the contemporary visual arts of the Asia­ Pacific region in an ongoing series of major art exhibitions. • To increase cultural understanding and establish the g roundwork for further cultural exchanges. • To build a continuing dial o gue and professional relationships based on mutual respect. • To increase the Australian public's awareness of Asian and Pacific societies through their contemporary art and introduce the visual arts of the reg ion to an Australian audience. • To raise the awareness of Australian contemporary art practice and of Australia as a multicultural country. • To increase the Australian public's cultural understanding of commun ities i n Australia which have originated from the countries i nvolved in the Triennial. • To provide a forum for exhibition , documentation and discussion of distinctive and diverse views concerning contemporary visual arts of the region. • To show the dynamic and changing nature of the cultures and societies represented i n the Triennial. How the Aims and Objectives were met The Queensland Art Gallery is confident that the Aims and Objectives of the Second Triennial were met. The following points present only an overview of how this was achieved , more detailed information is included in the specific sections of the reports. • Recognition of the Asia-Pacific Triennial as a major international , contemporary cultural event which extends beyond the visual arts and has established an ongoing dialogue between Australia, Asia and the Pacific {see also Media Coverage, Volume 5) . • Development of extensive contacts and relationships between Australian arts professionals and their counterparts in the Asia-Pacific region. The Second Triennial involved seventy-seven writers, forty-two curators and 1 61 artists from Australia, Asia, and the Pacific. • Extensive and continuing documentation and research of Asian and Pacific art (see also Publications i n this Volume, and Research Library and Databases, Volume 3). 8