Queensland Art Gallery Annual Report 1993-94

In the past year, program collaboration between the Gallery corporate sponsors, private donors activities were of a scope, and its corporate and private and gifts. A total of 125 works were complexity and quality to achieve supporters, are the ARCO Gallery acquired through the Foundation, a high public profile, strong of Asian Art and The Kenneth twenty-two of which were through attendances and critical acclaim and Yasuko Myer Collection of the successful Contemporary Art for the Gallery. Contemporary Asian Art. Acquisition Program. The State Fifteen of the twenty exhibitions The ARCO Gallery was purpose- Government will continue to presented were initiated by the built for the permanent display of subsidise donations made to the Gallery and seven exhibitions the traditional Asian art collection Foundation up to $ 5 0 0 000. A sum contained a significant majority of of which the Six Old Kilns group of up to $ 2 5 0 0 0 0 will be allocated works by Queensland artists. Five of works is the centrepiece. to match donations and, as has were international exhibitions and The gallery was designed and been the practice, this subsidy will included the highly successful constructed by Gallery staff be invested, the interest being used 'Surrealism: Revolution by Night' and was made possible entirely for acquisition purposes. A further and 'Shell presents Van Gogh: through corporate support. ARCO sum of $ 2 5 0 0 0 0 will be provided His Sources, Genius and I n f l u e n c e . C o a l Australia Inc., the Gallery's for direct application to purchases The Gallery's commitment to longest-standing and a most for the Collection, with an emphasis initiating and organising important generous corporate supporter, on acquiring works by twentieth international exhibitions was funded the gallery's construction. century Queensland and other confirmed by the presentation of Works were sponsored by Mr James Australian artists. the inaugural 'Asia-Pacific Triennial 0. Fairfax AO, Sir Bruce and Lady The major Australian of Contemporary A r t As the first Watson, ITOCHU Australia Limited, acquisition, supported by the exhibition ever to focus on the Mitsui and Co. (Australia) Ltd, and Queensland Art Gallery Foundation, contemporary art of the Asia-Pacific Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. was John Brack's Finale 1992. As in region, this was a visual art event of An extremely generous many of Brack's works, Finale plays world significance. donation from The Myer Foundation with inanimate objects in a way that The first Asia-Pacific Triennial and also from Mr Michael Myer and is both emblematic and subtly comprised works by seventy-six Mrs Ann Gamble Myer enabled the disconcerting. It is unquestionably artists from thirteen countries, an Gallery to acquire works from a great Australian painting and a international conference and two the first 'Asia-Pacific Triennial of fine addition to the Collection. major publications. Attended by Contemporary Art' to establish Aboriginal, Asian, Contemporary more than 6 0 0 0 0 people, the The Kenneth and Yasuko Myer Australian, and Queensland art exhibition focussed international Collection of Contemporary Asian were again the major areas of attention on Queensland and Art. This collection honours Collection development, reflecting Australia and has established the Kenneth and Yasuko Myer and is the objectives of the Gallery's groundwork for ongoing cultural unique in its aim to represent the acquisitions policy. During the exchanges, dialogue and contemporary art of the Asia- International Year for the World's professional relationships in this Pacific region. Indigenous People the Gallery dynamic region. In recognition of The Gallery's international acquired a group of contemporary its importance, the Queensland collection was further enhanced by Aboriginal paintings, sculptures Government has provided the purchase of an important and prints, and commenced a new substantial funding towards the colour linocut by Pablo Picasso collection focus of contemporary development of the second Asia- with funds generously provided by Aboriginal textiles. Pacific Triennial in 1996. Louis Vuitton Australia Pty Ltd. To increase visitor enjoyment Two other major initiatives, The Gallery Foundation and knowledge of its activities, the which articulate the focus of the continued to shape the development Gallery introduced a bulletin board Gallery's Asian policy directions, of the Collection and to support detailing daily activities, as well as and which demonstrate the major projects by attracting new providing a monthly overview of 8