The 8th Asia Pacific Triennial Of Contemporary Art At QAGOMA

More than 80 artists from Australia, Asia and the Pacific will be showcased at the 8th Asia Pacific Triennial Of Contemporary Art (APT8).

Opening with a spectacle in November, Brisbane’s Gallery Of Modern Art (GOMA) and Queensland Art Gallery (QAG) will be home to APT8, Australia's most anticipated contemporary art event. APT8 will be the world's largest exhibition of works from Australia, Asia and the Pacific, hosting over 80 artists from 32 countries. Artists have been selected from a three-year search, with curators travelling the Asia-Pacific region to find the most exciting local and international talent.

Taloi Havini and Stuart Miller – Russel and the Panguna mine (from 'Blood Generations' series) 2009

“Our curatorial team has been researching new developments in contemporary art, liaising directly with artists and communities in their home countries to discuss new works and projects specifically for this exhibition,” says QAGOMA Director Chris Saines. “This process has taken the APT into regions previously unexplored and we are now proud to include artists from Mongolia, Nepal and countries in Central Asia including the Kyrgyz Republic, Iraq and Georgia for the first time.”

Uuriintuya Dagvasambuu – Path to Wealth 2013

The triennial exhibition has become a flagship event for the gallery, with over 2.4 million viewers over the history of the APT and this number is only growing, with 565, 000 visitors to APT7 in 2009. APT8 will showcase a wide range of new works, featuring large-scale sculptures, immersive installations, interactive performances, kinetic artwork and thought-provoking public programmes. The APT's focus on acquisition and commission has led to an extensive collection of contemporary Asian and Pacific art, a collection which will be further bolstered by the captivating works of APT8.

Juan Davila – Ohhhhhh! 2014

The exhibition kicks-off with a huge, free opening weekend filled with programmes and special events. Artists, curators and guest speakers will examine the works and ideas prevalent within the exhibition through talks, discussion panels, and tours. The weekend will also see the launch of APT8 Live, a series of artist performances that expand on the collection's emergent themes, and APT8 Kids, a special programme of immersive installations for young kids; both of which will run for the duration of the exhibition.

Duan Jianyu – Sharp, Sharp, Smart No.4 (from 'Sharp, Sharp', 'Smart' series) 2014

Immediately following the opening weekend, the APT8 Conference brings leading thinkers from Australia and overseas to consider some of the key conceptual threads of APT8, discussing topics such as the varied uses of the human form in artistic expression and the significance of such practices in Australia, Asia and the Pacific. After the APT8 Conference, QAGOMA will host the 2015 Art Association Of Australia & New Zealand conference. Critical scholarship is an important focus of the APT, with accompanying publications, academic papers and public programmes contributing to research into art of the region.

Francis Upritchard – Bearer (detail) 2012

With 17 Australian artists featured, this year sees the largest Australian involvement in the APT so far. This Australian involvement includes seven indigenous artists forming a large component of the APT8 Live performance, bringing indigenous works to the forefront. Other highlights of the exhibition include: Works from Indian indigenous artists will also examine the changes of pictorial styles and forms of storytelling in uniquely contemporary interpretations. A multimedia installation of music and dance from Melanesia, 'Yumi Danis' (We Dance) features creative performances from six different island nations. Art from countries rarely seen in Australia will be highlighted during the exhibition, including a major group of paintings by four Mongolian artists that showcases the richness of the Mongol zurag painting movement.


Melati Suryodramo – I'm A Ghost In My Own House 2012

Throughout APT8, GOMA's Cinémathèque will present two programmes of regional cinema: 'Filipino Indie' is a survey of independent and experimental filmmaking from the Philippines since 2000, which focuses on the creation of fiction-documentary hybrids and the pioneering use of digital filmmaking that is central to contemporary Filipino cinema. 'Pop Islam' reflects on experiences of the contemporary Islamic world, from Australia and South East Asia to the Indian subcontinent, central and west Asia and north Africa, exploring the complexities of faith in a consumerist culture and interrogating the representation of Islam.

Navin Rawanchaikul – Tales Of Navin 2 2013-15

APT8 will bring bold and exciting artworks from Australia, Asia and the Pacific to QAGOMA for six months, with a wide-ranging suite of publications, online resources and educational material to enrich and expand the range of cultural artworks, installations, discussions and performances on show.

The 8th Asia Pacific Triennial Of Contemporary Art (APT8) exhibits Gallery Of Modern Art | Queensland Art Gallery, 21 November – 10 April.