APT8 is the flagship exhibition of the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA), which highlights work from Asia, the Pacific and Australia. The 2015 exhibition features more than 80 artists and groups from more than 30 countries, including 17 from Australia.
The Triennial provides an important opportunity for Australian artists and the visual arts sector to make strategic international connections, and to have their work seen alongside other leading artists from across the Asia Pacific region.
To build sector knowledge, artistic and cultural the Australia Council brought together 13 international arts professionals in our International Visitors Program.
The Program provides a valuable platform to highlight Australian artists, curatorial expertise and leadership in the region. Partnering with QAGOMA, the Council also introduced a new initiative – the First Nations Curator Exchange, bringing together 13 Indigenous curators from Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
The First Nations Curator program saw an exchange of knowledge and ideas between the curators working from all three countries, while building connections to celebrate and support First Nations’ art and culture. The program is the first in a partnership between the Australia Council, Canada Council for the Arts and Creative New Zealand. The inaugural First Nations Curators Exchange is also supported by the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The 8th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT8) at QAGOMA runs from 21 November to 10 April 2016 and is free to the public.
TSHERIN SHERPA (Nepal/USA b.1968), Muted expression, 2015
Synthetic polymer paint, ink and platinum leaf on canvas,116.5 x 257.5cm
Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art Foundation
Image courtesy: The artist and Rossi & Rossi
International Visitors Program Participants
The visiting international curators who attended APT8 were:
- Diana Campbell Betancourt, Artistic Director, Samdani Art Foundation
- Biljana Ciric, Shanghai-based independent curator
- George Clark, Curator of Film, Tate Modern
- Reem Fadda, Associate Curator, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Project, Solomon R Guggenheim Museum & Foundation
- Hendrik Folkerts, Curator, documenta 14
- Yee I-Lann, Curator, experienced artist and film production designer based in Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.
- Dr Abdellah Karroum, Director, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art
- Emmanuel Kasarhérou, Chief Curator, French Overseas Territories, Musee du Quai Branly
- Raiji Kuroda, Chief Curator, Fukuoka Asian Art Museum
- Venus Lau, Consulting Curator, Ullens Center For Contemporary Art
- Dr Maia Nuku, Evelyn A. J. Hall and John A. Friede Associate Curator for Oceanic Art Department of the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas, The Metropolitan Museum of Art”
- Guillaume Soulard, Cultural and Artistic Director, Tjibaou Cultural Centre
- Mr Jochen Volz, Head of Programmes, Serpentine Gallery
First Nations Curator Exchange Participants
The Australian First Nations participants are: Nici Cumpston, Art Gallery of South Australia; Carly Lane, art Gallery of Western Australia; Keith Munro, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia; Bruce McLean QAGOMA; and Djon Mundine AM.
The New Zealand First Nations participants are: Nigel Borell, Curator Maori Art, Auckland Art Gallery; Karl Chitham, Director and Curator, Tauranga Art Gallery; Reuben Friend, Director and Curator, PATAKA Art + Museum; and Megan Tamati-Quennell, Curator of Modern & Contemporary Māori & Indigenous Art, Te Papa Tongarewa.
The Canadian First Nations participants are: Michelle LaVallee, Associate Curator, MacKenzie Art Gallery; Dr Julie Nagam; Curator, Winnipeg Art Gallery; France Trépanier, Aboriginal curator in residence, Open Space Arts Society; and Daina Warren, Urban Shaman Contemporary Aboriginal Art.
Australian artists exhibiting include Abdul Abdullah; Richard Bell; Juan Davila; Janenne Eaton; Lawrence English; Gabriella and Silvana Mangano; Danie Mellor; Christian Thompson; and Yukultji Napangati.
The 8th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT8) First Nations Curators Exchange & International Visitors Program videos can be viewed here.