The Fourth Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art

PREFACE The Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art 2002 represents a significant milestone, not only for the Triennial itself, but also for the Queensland Art Gallery. When the inaugural Triennial was announced in 1990 it was planned that this would be the first of three, after which the Gallery would consider whether the exhibitions should continue. The Triennials have now become an enduring part of the Gallery's profile, and will remain so, with the institution committed to a lasting engagement with the Asia-Pacific region through collecting, researching, exhibiting, publishing and interpreting the recent and current art of the region. It is now widely accepted that the APT embodies the full expression of these interests. In 2000, when the Queensland Government announced the Gallery's long-anticipated building project, the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art, an engagement with contemporary art from the Asia-Pacific was described as one of the new gallery's central roles. The Gallery of Modern Art will include the Australian Centre for Asia-Pacific Art, a cinematheque and new­ media galleries, and it will become the permanent home for future Triennials. During the past decade, a cohesive and consistent acquisitions program has developed the Collection in ways that have also attracted significant levels of private support from those who share the Gallery's Asia-Pacific engagement. Among many major contributors Michael Myer, Ann Gamble Myer and The Myer Foundation stand out as pre-eminent in establishing the Kenneth and Yasuko Myer Collection of Contemporary Asian Art. The new Gallery of Modern Art will become the location for the contemporary Asian and Pacific collections, and will fully reveal their astonishing scope and depth when the building opens in late 2005. Each Triennial has had its specific theme and stated curatorial rationale, but APT 2002 marks a shift from the panoramic style that was a necessary and inseparable part of the preceding three APTs. Each of the past Triennials displayed the work of more than 50 artists. In contrast, APT 2002 will include 16 artists and a performance collective. These artists are from Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Aotearoa New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, India and China. This shift enables each artist to be represented in depth, and will allow the exhibition to explore modern art and contemporary culture from the 1960s to the present. 6 APT2002 APT 2002 connects two centuries and represents two generations of artists. The participants include those with established reputations who have made important contributions during the past 40 years, but whose work remains relevant and enjoys continuing international interest. Alongside them are younger artists who continue to reinterpret areas such as performance and the moving image, reworking and expanding the radicalism of their predecessors. The artists and works in this Triennial cross conventional image and media classifications as well as spanning generations and centuries. A major part of the Triennials' success is due to the support received from government bodies, grant agencies, corporations and individuals. We are fortunate that many of our partners have maintained their association with APT 2002. We particularly acknowledge the Queensland Government and the unparalleled support it has provided to all four exhibitions; also the Australia Council and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, who support this project through their strategic programs. We are pleased to welcome the Brisbane City Council and the 2002 Energex Brisbane Festival as principal sponsors. All the major sponsors have enjoyed an enduring association with the APT - The Courier-Mail, Network Ten, Adshel, Australia-Indonesia Institute, Creative New Zealand and Singapore Airlines, our official international carrier. We also thank our many supporting sponsors, who are warmly acknowledged in this publication. The Queensland Art Gallery Exhibitions Development Fund, with its major donors - Idemitsu Kosan Co. Ltd, The Nikko Securities Co. Ltd, The Meiji Mutual Life Insurance Company, Nomura Australia Limited, Japan Travel Bureau (Aust.) Pty Ltd and Hitachi Australia Pty Ltd - provided the development funding for each Triennial. The Asia-Pacific Triennial involves all sections and staff within the Gallery and it is with the greatest of pleasure that we warmly acknowledge the many and special contributions of staff. Wayne Goss Chairman Doug Hall Director Michael Ming Hong Lin preparing Gallery 5 wall, OAG 09. 12.02 - 01.2703 2002 Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art 2002, Queensland Art Gallery Collection: The artist Photograph: Ray Fulton