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

Three cheers for Doug Hall and his crew at the Queensland Art Gallery. The Gallery's Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art series has been such a success the concept should be extended to other areas. . . (Editorial, The SundayMail, 29 September 1 996) One must congratulate the Gallery and its staff for a magnificent exhibition. I do not think many of us, even the selectors, could envisage all that work in place in the Gallery spaces, but you did it and did it so well. Many of the artists to whom I spoke, were equally laudatory on the hang or installation of their works and the wonderful lighting. The impact is overwhelming and the whole needs to revisited and revisited to take it all in. (Neil Manton, National Advisory Committee Member, 1 October 1 996) The Second Asia-Pacific Triennial at the Queensland Art Gallery is a lively and thought­ provoking exposition of our region's burgeoning contemporary art. (Sue Smith, The Courier-Mai/, 5 October 1 996) It is with great pleasure I can report that, against all odds, the Second Asia-Pacific Triennial (APT) at the Queensland Art Gallery is anything but a failure. On the contrary, it is a show to restore one's faith in contemporary art, with some outstanding individual pieces and a high level of commitment from artists and organisers. (John McDonald, The SydneyMorning Herald, 5 October 1 996) It is an exhibition that grows more impressive with a second and a third viewing, as the diversity of material becomes more digestible. Above all, there is the ever-renewed feeling that this is work that has genuine relevance to Australia - promoting a dialogue between nations in the Asia-Pacific region which can only lead to greater closeness and understanding. (John McDonald, The SydneyMorning Herald, 5 October 1 996) . . . there is also an introspective feeling about much of the art - a sense that criticism is giving way to a more constructive and exploratory approach. This may be ascribed to a growing self-confidence and a feeling of solidarity between nations; it may be partly due to the friendships and contacts that have sprung up as a result of events such as the APT. (John McDonald, The SydneyMorning Herald, 5 October 1 996) One of the best exhibitions I have seen in the past decade was the opening show of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles in 1 986. Simply called Individuals, it was just that, a brilliantly curated collection without a theme but full of innovation. APT2 is just such a show. No theme, great art. (Peter Hill, The Bulletin, 8 October 1 996) At the Second Asia-Pacific Triennial at the Queensland Art Gallery, Giles Auty prefers the more obviously homemade and poetic works and says the number, scale and variety often assault the eyeballs and sight. But the desirability of presenting a regular forum for non-European, non-American living art is unquestionable. ( The Australian, 1 1 October 1 996, p . 1 4) The Triennial, which is to be held for the second time during the Spring and Summer of 1 996, could perhaps be seen as a major exercise in cultural exchange and dialogue - not just between Australia and Asia, but between the many participants from throughout 26