APT 2002 Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art, Brisbane, Australia : Report

SUMMARY STATEMENT FROM CHAIR, BOARD OF TRUSTEES Yayoi Kusama, Narcissus garden Montien Boonma, Salas for the mind, APT 2002 installation view APT 2002 installation view The Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art 2002 (APT 2002), the fourth exhibition in the Queensland Art Gallery’s flagship contemporary art series, was an outstanding success. The attendance of 220 000 people to the exhibition exceeded all expectations, making APT 2002 the most successful yet in terms of visitor numbers. It represents an increase of some 65 000 visitors compared to the previous APT in 1999. This success in terms of numbers is qualified by visitor survey analysis that indicates that a very high percent (94.3%) of those who attended enjoyed the exhibition. APT 2002 consolidated and enhanced the Triennial’s status as a major event on the national and international arts calendar. It attracted widespread media coverage in Australia and overseas, both in mainstream news and specialist media outlets. APT 2002 also enhanced the Gallery’s national and international reputation as a leader in collecting and interpreting contemporary visual art of the Asia-Pacific region, promoting understanding of cultures in the region, and attracting new audiences to contemporary art. Contributing to the popularity of the exhibition was Kids’ APT — an innovative program of interactive art works for children inspired by the work of five APT 2002 artists — and the children’s festival, Kids’ APT ‘Summer Spectacular’. The success of ‘Summer Spectacular’ has placed the Gallery at the forefront of children’s programming in galleries and museums worldwide. This report is an important record of the extraordinary diversity, quality and depth of the many and varied components that were APT 2002. I hope you enjoy revisiting what was another milestone for the Queensland Art Gallery and the APT, as one of Australia’s most important cultural events. Wayne Goss Chair Queensland Art Gallery Board of Trustees 5