Queensland Art Gallery Annual Report 1993-94

I NTERNAT I ONAL PROGRAMS The Committee consisted of and performances in liaison with world to focus on contemporary Mr Doug Hall, Director and other institutions and organisations art and artists of the Asia-Pacific Dr Caroline Turner, Deputy Director around Australia. They visited region. & Manager, International Programs contemporary art spaces, art The Asia-Pacific Triennial was from the Queensland Art Gallery; schools, universities, state galleries supported by two major publications Ms Alison Carroll, Visual Arts and regional galleries. These visits and an extensive education Manager, Asialink, Melbourne; were made possible by the program. The official opening, Mr Neil Manton, Director, South-East Department of Foreign Affairs and performed by the Premier of Asia and the Pacific Program, Trade, and corporate funding. Queensland, The Hon. Wayne Goss, Department of Foreign Affairs and The major international MLA, attracted over 2 0 0 0 guests. Trade Cultural Relations Branch, conference, 'Identity, Tradition and In his keynote address His Canberra; and Professor David Change: Contemporary Art of the Excellency Mr Sabam Pandapotan Williams, Director, Canberra School Asia-Pacific Region was held from Siagian, Ambassador of the of Art, Australian National University. Friday 17 to Monday 2 0 September. Republic of Indonesia, For two and a half years prior to It was organised in association with congratulated the Gallery on an the Asia-Pacific Triennial opening, Griffith University's Centre for the important initiative for the entire members of the National Advisory Study of Australia-Asia Relations. Asia-Pacific region. Committee and curators travelled The conference was fully The exhibition attracted an extensively throughout the region subscribed. The 4 5 0 delegates unprecedented level of international meeting artists and surveying included representatives from all media coverage for an art current art trends. Their work was major art institutions in Australia exhibition in Australia. International greatly facilitated in each country and delegates from throughout the coverage included reviews in by advisers and organising Asia-Pacific region. major newspapers and journals institutions, local art experts and Breaking new ground and throughout the region and art schools, museums and opening a new dialogue in extensive radio coverage through galleries. It is central to the Asia- contemporary art, the conference Radio Australia. Critical reviews Pacific Triennial's philosophy that has been acknowledged as one of were received from all participating the selections reflect what the the most dynamic and significant countries and the exhibition was experts in each country believe art conferences held in Australia. recognised as being of international the important issues to be. Plans are underway for a similar significance. For example, The resulting project is one of conference to be held in Dr Apinan Poshyananda wrote in genuine collaboration based on conjunction with the next Asia- the Bangkok Post [4 November] mutual respect. Pacific Triennial exhibition in 1996. that the Asia-Pacific Triennial 'has The 1993 Asia-Pacific Triennial To support the ongoing bulldozed contemporary art from was attended by twenty overseas research and organisation of the the Asia-Pacific region onto the art critics and forty-four Asia-Pacific Triennial, a specialised world arena and Redza Piyadasa participating artists. The Gallery research collection on the stated in the Malaysian Business provided an extensive program for contemporary visual art of the Times [25 September] 'those of us these visitors. The art critics Asia-Pacific region has been who were in Brisbane last week participated in an international developed by the Gallery's Library. [for the official opening] came away conference and the artists were The collection currently holds more feeling that we had been privileged involved in artist talks, than 9 0 0 items, with particular to have been part of a historic performances and the conference. emphasis on exhibition catalogues, cultural event for both Australia The Gallery also organised an An Asia-Pacific computer database and Asia artists' retreat after the exhibition has also been developed. The The 'Asia-Pacific Triennial of opened. The majority of art critics database is being expanded into Contemporary Art' was supported and artists were involved in an a significant research tool and as by the Queensland Art Gallery extensive program of talks, lectures such is the first database in the Exhibitions Development Fund. 13