Suspended tunnels, monumental sculptures and futurism on screen – QAGOMA unveils this year’s Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art line-up
From breathtaking installations by Cai Guo-Qiang to the sculptural sensations of Yayoi Kusama, the Asia Pacific Triennial has been responsible for some of Queensland’s most iconic cultural moments throughout the years. On November 30, the highly anticipated flagship exhibition series returns for its 11th iteration, bringing to Brisbane another unmissable showcase of contemporary art from the region’s finest established and emerging artists. The blockbuster exhibition will see QAGOMA welcome more than 500 artworks by artists from more than 30 countries. Keep reading to find out more …
Since it first launched in 1993, the Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art has become a staple of the national art calendar, beckoning more than four million visitors through the QAGOMA galleries over the last two decades. The major success of this exhibition series has helped QAGOMA emerge as one of the world’s most significant collections of contemporary Asian and Pacific art.Last week, QAGOMA revealed the dynamic and exciting cohort of contemporary artists set to be showcased at this year’s triennial. With more than 500 artworks included, the curated collection will display the true depth and breadth of the region’s art scene with a diverse range of styles, traditions and perspectives.
“From across the country and the Asia Pacific region, this exhibition brings together diverse artists and collectives to share unique stories through compelling and exciting work,” shares Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch.
Highlights of this year’s exhibition include a vibrant multi-part project by Haus Yuriyal (a collective of 28 artists from Papua New Guinea), a three-dimensional installation of suspended tunnels, cascading curtains and towering scrolls by leading Thai artist Mit Jai Inn, a monumental sculptures and video series by Aotearoa New Zealand artist Brett Graham, portraits of everyday life in Hong Kong by senior painter Yeung Tong Lung as well as myriad more installations, paintings, sculptures and multi-disciplinary projects.
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In addition to these major works, a series of new pieces have been commissioned for the exhibition by QAGOMA’s specialist Asian and Pacific curatorial team, with collaboration from co-curators and interlocutors in the region, including the likes of Jasmine Togo-Brisby, Kawita Vatanajyankur, Trương Công Tùng and more. Beyond the debut of these pieces, QAGOMA will also introduce four fascinating co-curated projects highlighting contemporary art from Nepal, the region of Mindanao in the Southern Philippines, the Arnarvon Islands in the Solomon Islands and Torba Province of Vanuatu.
The Triennial will be on display from November 30, 2024 to April, 27 2025, exhibited alongside an unmissable series of artist talks, events and live performances, curated cinema programs, community engagement initiatives and children’s projects. For the full lists of artists, visit here.
Image two: Kawita Vatanyankur / Thailand b.1987 / Pat Pataranutaporn / United States b.1995 / The Machine Ghost in the Human Shell (from the ‘Cyber Labour’ series) 2024 / Performative hologram projections with AI / Installed dimensions variable / Commissioned for the 11th Asia Pacific Triennial / Courtesy: The artist and Nova Contemporary / © Kawita Vatanyankur
Image three: Dawn Ng / Singapore b.1982 / WATERFALL VIII (still) 2023 / 4K video: 16:9 (landscape) and 9:16 (portrait), 27:06 minutes / Courtesy: The artist and Sullivan+Strumpf / © Dawn Ng
Image four: Rithika Merchant / India b.1986 / Temporal Structures 2023 / Gouache, watercolour and ink on paper / 105 x 150cm / Courtesy: The artist and TARQ, Mumbai / © Rithika Merchant
Image five: Brett Graham / Ngāti Korokī Kahukura, Tainui / Aotearoa New Zealand b.1967 / Maungārongo ki te Whenua, Maungārongo ki te Tangata 2020 / Wood, synthetic polymer paint and graphite / 320 x 800 x 320cm / Courtesy: The artist and Neil Pardington / © Brett Graham and Neil Pardington /
Image six: D Harding / Bidjara, Ghungalu and Garingbal people / Australia b.1982 / Wool blankets (installation view, ‘We Breathe Together’, Bergen Kunstall, Norway) 2021–22 / Wool felt, pigment, gum arabic / Courtesy: The artist and Milani Gallery, Brisbane / © D Harding / Photograph: Thor Brødreskift
Image seven: Kikik Kollektive artist Marrz Capanang paints a collaborative mural in IIoilo City, Central Philippines, 2022 / © Kikik Kollektive / Photograph: Kristine Buenavista