INSTALLATION UNDERWAY FOR 10TH ASIA PACIFIC TRIENNIAL AT QAGOMA

Anticipation is building as major works by artists Rocky Cajigan (Philippines), Chong Kim Chiew (Malaysia) Alia Farid (Kuwait), Brian Fuata (Aotearoa/Australia), I Made Djirna (Indonesia), Jumaadi (Indonesia/Australia), Vipoo Srivilasa (Thailand/Australia) and others are being prepared and installed for ‘The 10th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art’ (APT10) at the Queensland Art Gallery I Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA).

They join previously-announced artists including Kaili Chun (Kanaka Ōiwi, Hawai’i), Gordon Hookey (Waanyi people, Australia), Kimiyo Mishima (Japan), Salote Tawale (Fiji/Australia) and Grace Lillian Lee and Uncle Ken Thaiday Snr (Meriam Mir people, Australia).

QAGOMA Director Chris Saines said the installation of the tenth chapter in the Gallery’s flagship series was underway, with the full list of artists announced for the exhibition, which is due to open from 4 December 2021 until 25 April 2022.

‘Since its first edition almost 30 years ago, APT has established an international reputation as a challenging and dynamic exhibition, highlighting the most exciting developments in contemporary art from across our culturally diverse region,’ Mr Saines said.

‘Presented at both QAG and GOMA and including recent and newly-commissioned works, APT involves a great depth of research by the Gallery’s in-house curators working closely with a broad network of artists and specialists across an expansive geography.

‘APT10 is full of stories of travel, journeys, migrations and connections to place. It’s layered with responses, questions and ideas about the present moment, the many issues facing humanity, and propositions towards the future from a diversity of cultural perspectives. It includes works of art that are by turn highly personal, deeply political, and full of joy.

‘We are now undertaking the mammoth process of receiving, preparing and installing 69 projects by more than 150 emerging and established artists, collectives and filmmakers from more than 30 countries.

‘With the global impact of COVID-19, APT10 has presented logistical challenges, but it has also been exceptionally rewarding to see how artists work through such tremendous change. It has necessitated new approaches to exhibition-making, and we’ve worked virtually with artists, advisors and collaborators to facilitate exchanges and outcomes from afar.

‘More than ever before, community and collaboration is a major feature of this Triennial with many artists achieving ambitious results through working with groups or as part of collectives, such as the Bajau Sama Dilaut people in Sabah Borneo, Gidree Bawlee Foundation of Arts in north-western Bangladesh and Seleka International Arts Society Initiative in Tonga.’

Mr Saines said the Gallery’s research arm, the Australian Centre for Asian and Pacific Art (ACAPA) had provided the framework for new initiatives that will further broaden community engagement – supported by the Australian Government through the Office for the Arts.

‘The ACAPA Pacifika Community Engagement Project, created with a dynamic team of ten local Pacific Islanders, and five community groups in south-east Queensland, has informed the way Pasifika projects in the exhibition are presented, broadened relationships and translated artwork labels into Pacific languages,’ he said.

The development of APT10 has also played host to the inaugural Creative New Zealand Pacific Curator Residency (Australia) with Auckland-based artist and curator Natasha Matila-Smith and includes learning initiatives driven by artist-in-residence Brian Fuata.

Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch said the Queensland Government was a founding supporter of the Asia Pacific Triennial (APT), which showcases and celebrates the diverse arts and cultures of the Asia Pacific region.

‘The Palaszczuk Government’s continued investment in the APT has enabled QAGOMA to build a truly outstanding event of international significance bringing communities together with powerful voices telling their own stories,’ Minister Enoch said.

‘Over the past nine exhibitions, the Asia Pacific Triennial has attracted more than 3.7 million visitors, which is great news for local tourism.

‘Most recently, APT9 alone attracted 718,000 visits, contributing almost $35 million to Queensland’s economy and generating more than 288,000 visitor nights.

‘That’s why the Palaszczuk Government is supporting APT10 with blockbuster exhibition funding.

‘The arts are key to delivering our plan for economic recovery from COVID-19, each year contributing $8.5 billion to the state’s economy and supporting more than 92,000 jobs for Queenslanders.’

Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the APT was featured on the Tourism and Events Queensland It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.

‘Art events like this bring many new visitors to our city which benefits accommodation and transport providers, restaurants and local tourism operators,’ Mr Hinchliffe said.

‘We’re encouraging visitors to enjoy Brisbane’s great art institutions and local culture, as well as the city’s many tourism experiences.

‘Art, events and tourism are important for supporting local jobs and the Palaszczuk Government’s Covid-19 Economic Recovery Plan.’

The expansive, free exhibition will incorporate a multi-strand APT10 Cinema program, seven interactive artist projects for children and families as part of APT10 Kids, a two-night Up Late program in 2022 and a full-colour publication.

Also accompanying APT10 is Asia Pacific Art Papers: Contemporary Contexts, Practices and Ideas, a three-part digital resource offering new insights into the changing conditions and practices of artists in the region – assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body. The first set of essays are online now at www.apap.qagoma.qld.gov.au

Among the many highlights of APT10 will be:

• Vipoo Srivilasa’s immersive, participatory installation Shrine of Life/ Benjapakee Shrine 2021, featuring five hand-crafted ceramic deities representing attributes important to the artist: identity, love equality, creativity, security and spirituality. Finished with gold lustre and floral embellishments, the work reflects Srivilasa’s holistic approach to life, and encourages audiences to appreciate the things that unite us.
• Hairloom 2021, a dramatic, newly commissioned ten metre-long loom of human hair by Rocky Cajigan, reflecting the artist’s personal history and exploration of the material, culture, indigeneity and museology of the Cordillera region of the Philippines
• A series of enormous sculptural vessels in fibreglass and synthetic resin by Kuwait City- and San Juan, Puerto Rico-based artist Alia Farid, offering a poignant message about the ever-increasing issue of water scarcity across West Asia.
• Senior Balinese artist I Made Djirna’s dense, cave-like environment created from found, natural materials, a work strongly informed by the artist’s Balinese culture, ritual and landscape.
• A new series of large-scale paintings by Indonesian-Australian artist Jumaadi, created on delicate cloth prepared by artisans in Indonesia and illustrating the unique storytelling of the artists that reflect on emotions ranging from love and human relationships to displacement and isolation.
• New work by Chong Kim Chiew, including a towering installation of maps painted directly onto tarpaulin, expressing a compulsive reorientation of the geographic and political topography of Malaysia and its Southeast Asian neighbours.

The full list of artists featured in APT10 is:

• 3AM est. 2016, Myanmar. Live and work in Yangon, Myanmar
• Bani Abidi b.1971, Karachi, Pakistan. Lives and works in Berlin, Germany and Karachi.
• ACAPA Pasifika Community Engagement Project (ACE)
• Air Canoe: Northern Oceania: Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and their diasporas.
• Edith Amituanai b.1980, Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand. Lives and works Auckland.
• Nazgol Ansarinia b.1979, Tehran, Iran. Lives and works in Tehran, Iran.
• Maryam Ayeen and Abbas Shahsavar b.1985, Bojnord, Iran & b.1983, Kermanshah, Iran. Live and work in Tehran, Iran.
• Apenisa Bainivalu, Laweni Tekina Laiseane & Veniana Maraia Paulina b.1959, Mokani village, Tailevu Province, Fiji; b.1964, Naroi village, Lau Province, Fiji; & b.1951, Nasilai village, Rewa Delta, Fiji. Live and work in Nasilai village.
• Bajau Sama Dilaut Weavers Semporna, Sabah, Malaysia.
• Rathin Barman b.1981, Tripura, India. Lives and works in Kolkata, India.
• Rocky Cajigan lfontok and Kankanaey people, b.1988, Bontoc, the Philippines. Lives and works in La Trinidad and Bontoc.
• Chong Kim Chiew b.1975, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Lives and works in Kuala Lumpur.
• Genevieve Chua b.1984, Singapore. Lives and works in Singapore.
• Kaili Chun Kanaka Ōiwi people, b.1962, O’ahu, Hawai’i. Lives and works in Honolulu, Hawai’i.
• I Made Djirna b.1957, Kedewatan, Bali, Indonesia. Lives and work in Kedewatan.
• Alia Farid b.1985, Kuwait City, Kuwait. Lives and works in Kuwait City and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
• Between Earth and Sky: Indigenous Contemporary Art from Taiwan
  (Anli Genu, Dondon Hounwn, Fangas Nayaw, Etan Pavavalung, Aluaiy Pulidan, Ruby Swana, Yuma Taru, Masiswagger Zingrur).
• Brian Fuata b.1978, Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand. Lives and works in Brisbane, Australia.
• Hikaru Fujii b.1976, Tokyo, Japan. Lives and works in Tokyo.
• Joyce Arasepa Mary Gole OL b.1941, Oro Province, Papua New Guinea. Lives and works in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
• Jamilah Haji b.1989, Narathiwat, Thailand. Lives and works in Narathiwat.
• Hao Jingban b.1985, Shanxi Province, China. Lives and works in Beijing, China.
• Hao Liang b.1983, Chengdu, China. Lives and works in Beijing, China.
• Gordon Hookey Waanyi people, b.1961, Cloncurry, Australia. Lives and works in Brisbane, Australia.
• Chia-Wei Hsu b.1983, Taichung, Taiwan. Lives and works in Taipei, Taiwan.
• Hu Yun b.1986, Shanghai, China. Lives and works in Belgrade, Serbia and Shanghai.
• Jumaadi b.1973, Sidoarjo, Indonesia. Lives and works in Sydney, Australia and Imogiri, Indonesia.
• Kā Paroro o Haumumu: Coastal flows, coastal incursions: Alex Montieth with Vicki Lenihan, Kaihaukai Art Collective: Ron Bull Jnr and Simon Kaan and local elders. Aotearoa New Zealand
• Grace Lillian Lee & Ken Thaiday Snr Meriam Mir people, b.1988, Cairns, Australia & b.1950, Erub (Darnley) Island, Australia. Live and work in Cairns.
• Amy Lien & Enzo Camacho b.1987, Dallas, United States, lives and works in New York, United States & b.1985, Manila, the Philippines, lives and works in Berlin, Germany.
• Minouk Lim b.1968, Daejeon, South Korea. Lives and works in Seoul, Korea.
• Kimiyo Mishima b.1932, Osaka, Japan. Lives and works in Osaka and Gifu, Japan.
• Phuong Ngo with collaborators b.1983, Adelaide, Australia. Lives and works in Melbourne, Australia.
• Nguyên Phung Linh b.1985, Hanoi, Vietnam. Lives and works in Hanoi.
• Nguyên Thi Châu Giang b.1975, Hanoi, Vietnam. Lives and works in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
• Jasmine Nilani Joseph b.1990, Jaffna, Sri Lanka. Lives and works in Jaffna
• Shannon Novak b.1979, New Plymouth, Aotearoa New Zealand. Lives and works in Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Phi Phi Oanh b.1979, Houston, United State of America. Lives and works in Da Nang, Vietnam.
• Archie Oclos b.1989, Manila, the Philippines. Lives and works in Manila.
• Lee Paje b.1980, Quezon City, the Philippines. Lives and works in Antipolo, the Philippines.
• Bagus Pandega b.1985, Jakarta, Indonesia. Lives and works in Bandung, Indonesia.
• Christina Pataialii b.1988, Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand. Lives and works in Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Pala Pothupitiye b.1972, Deniyaya, Sri Lanka. Live and works in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
• Shubigi Rao b.1975, Mumbai, India. Lives and works in Singapore.
• Syagini Ratna Wulan b.1979, Bandung, Indonesia. Lives and works in Bandung.
• Koji Ryui b.1976, Kyoto, Japan. Lives in Sydney, Australia.
• Tita Salina & Irwan Ahmett b.1973, Sumatra, Indonesia & b.1975, Java, Indonesia. Live and work in Jakarta, Indonesia.
• Seleka International Art Society Initiative est. 2008. Haveluloto, Tongatapu, Tonga.
• Thasnai Sethaseree b.1968, Bangkok, Thailand. Lives and works in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
• Kamruzzaman Shadhin & Gidree Bawlee Foundation of Arts b.1974, Thakurgaon, Bangladesh & est. 2001. Live and work in Dhaka and Thakurgaon, Bangladesh.
• Karan Shrestha b.1985, Kathmandu, Nepal. Lives and works in Kathmandu and Mumbai, India.
• Sumakshi Singh b.1980, Delhi, India. Lives and works in Gurgaon, India.
• Yasmin Smith b.1984, Sydney, Australia. Lives and works in Sydney.
• Vipoo Srivilasa b.1969, Bangkok, Thailand. Lives and works in Melbourne, Australia.
• Adeela Suleman b.1970, Karachi, Pakistan. Lives and works in Karachi.
• Som Supaparinya b.1973, Chiang Mai, Thailand. Lives and works in Chiang Mai.
• Svay Sareth b.1972, Battambang, Cambodia. Lives and works in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
• Amin Taasha b.1995, Bamiyan, Afghanistan. Lives and works in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
• Salote Tawale b.1976, Suva, Fiji. Lives and works in Sydney, Australia.
• Shannon Te Ao Ngāti Tūwharetoa, b.1978, Sydney, Australia. Lives and works in Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Than Sok b.1984, Takeo, Cambodia. Lives and works in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
• Subash Thebe Limbu Yakthung people, b.1981, Dharan, Nepal. Lives and works in London, United Kingdom and Kathmandu, Nepal.
• Michiko Tsuda b.1980, Kanagawa, Japan. Lives and works in Kanagawa.
• Lesieli Kato Kakala Tohi Tupou & Sione Maileseni b.1944, Lofanga Island, Ha’apai, Tonga. Lives and works in Halaleva, Nuku’alofa, Tongatapu, Tonga & b.1983, Tafoa village, Tongatapu, Tonga. Lives and works in Kapeta, Tongatapu, Tonga.
• Uramat Mugas (Uramat Story Songs) Indigenous Uramat Identity, East New Britain, Papua New Guinea.
• Mayur & Tushar Vayeda Warli people, b.1992 & b.1987, Ganjad, Maharashtra, India. Live and work in Ganjad.
• Yee I-Lann b.1971, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. Lives and works in Kota Kinabalu.
• Yolngu/Macassan Project Yirrkala, Australia and Macassar, Indonesia.
• Yu Ji b.1985, Shanghai, China. Lives and works in Shanghai.