APT6 in Review

• a selection of works reflecting the influence of popular culture throughout Asia, including a group of paintings by Indian collaborative duo Thukral and Tagra; a guitar sculpture by Indonesian artist Rudi Mantofani; and Tibetan artist Gonkar Gyatso’s Angel 2007; • a range of works from the Mekong focus of APT6, significantly expanding the Gallery’s holdings of South-East Asian contemporary art, including photographic series by Manit Sriwanichpoom and by Tun Win Aung and Wah Nu; ceramic works by Bùi Công Khánh; paintings by Svay Ken; and a suite of sculptures by Sopheap Pich; • the site-specific paper installation Cloud 2009 by Thai artist Wit Pimkanchanapong, which dramatically transformed the GoMA foyer; • a suite of nine photographs by Shirana Shahbazi from her ‘Flowers, fruits and portraits’ series 2003–ongoing. Kids’ APT works acquired: • Shirana Shahbazi’s enormous painting Still life: Coconut and other things 2009 (gifted by the artist); • a beautiful sequence of six paintings by Hwang In Jae from the Mansudae Art Studio, telling the traditional Korean story of the Fairy of the Kumgang Mountains (gifted by Nicholas Bonner, co-curator of the Mansudae Art Studio project); • the 99 Self portraits magnet activity and original drawings by Pakistani artist Ayaz Jokhio; • the interactive video work Water Project 2009 by Charwei Tsai (a gift from the artist to augment the Gallery’s acquisition of her two other video works featured in APT6). Internships The Gallery’s Australian Centre of Asia Pacific Art (ACAPA) arranged several internships for APT6. Jose Tay, Manager, Programmes at the National Museum of Singapore, undertook a four-week internship with the Gallery’s Education department. Tay’s internship was funded by the National Museum of Singapore. The Gallery also hosted Alvis Choi, Michelle Lee and Wong Wing Fung — students from the Para/Site Art Space–Hong Kong Jockey Club Curatorial Training Programme in Hong Kong — for two weeks in January. Their internship was funded by Para/Site Art Space. Visiting curators The Australian Centre of Asia Pacific Art (ACAPA) hosted two visiting curators as part of the research and development of APT6. London-based independent curator, producer and writer Rose Issa, who specialises in contemporary art and film of the Middle East and North Africa, visited in February 2009. While in Brisbane, Issa presented a public lecture as part of the Griffith Asia Institute and ACAPA’s Perspectives: Asia lecture series, and also presented public lectures in Canberra and Melbourne. Her visit to Australia was supported by the Australia Council, with the assistance of Dr Caroline Turner, AM . Shihoko Iida came to the Gallery in October 2009 from Tokyo’s Opera City Art Gallery. She works within the Asian and Pacific Art curatorial department and was involved in different aspects of APT6, including hosting the visiting Japanese artists and writing two essays for the exhibition catalogue. Iida’s visit to Australia is funded by the Japanese Government’s Agency of Cultural Affairs. Y.N.G’s Y.N.G.M.S (Y.N.G’s mobile studio) 2009, APT6 Opening Weekend, December 2009. Photograph: Ray Fulton 39 Since 1993, the Queensland Art Gallery’s Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art has been the most important art show regularly held in Australia. With this latest version, it has become the best. Rex Butler, Artforum , April 2010