APT8 arrives in Brisbane

As you can see from this amazing image by Australian artist Danie Mellor (above) Ive been out and about seeing some beautiful work over the weekend in Brisbane - as the 8th Asia Pacific Triennial has just opened. The Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) and the Queensland Art Gallery (QAG) have been taken over by some amazing contemporary artists. And believe me - two days was just enough! 

The APT is such a brilliant and unique exhibition and The Queensland Arts has to be commended for their brave move to continue investing in this initiative to find, cultivate, support, and acquire artworks from countries such as Myanmar, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Mongolia, New Caledonia and every country in between. The collection of works they present is always interesting, diverse and completely thought provoking. 

Ive just been to Venice to see the Biennale this year and I swear I saw more eclectic and engaging work in Brisbane with this Triennial than I did in Italy. The work this time focused on some key areas such as kinetic energy, issues of personal identity, the environment, displacement and globalisation. 

The one phrase I wrote down when I entered the foyer space at GOMA this year was....

'Public space + collective experience' 

and I think that's what all the works were really about. 

Protest, sharing of information, and a want of acceptance and acknowledgement of our histories - both past and present. 

Great show.

I didnt take many pics but here are a few that made it onto my phone.

Massive mural charcoal drawing by Indian artist Prabhakar Pachpute in the GOMA foyer
created in a couple of days before the exhibition opened

Min Thein Sungs amazing sculptural installation at GOMA.
He is from Myanmar and this work was all about the oppression in his country
and how people made their own toys using everyday materials

Mural drawing in the Queensland Art Gallery by an Indian artist

This amazing multimedia installation by Nicolas Mole (Kanak Peoples/New Caledonia)
was one of my favourite artworks.
It was made in collaboration with artists and performers from New Caledonia

My mate Amelia taking photos of the massive installation of 1000 Venetian blinds
that was in the Queensland art gallery waterfall foyer
by artist Haegue Yang (South Korea)

It was hard to take pics of these stunning photos by Taloi Havini + Stuart Miller
that represent the Hako people and the environmental concerns of  Bougainville.
I loved this series of works...

Amazing SaVage K'lub created by New Zealand artist Rosanna Raymond

A couple of pics of the HUGE installation of paintings, sculptures, drawings and everything else in between ...
by three artists - Ramin Haerizadeh (Iran/UAE), Rokni Haerizadeh (Iran/UEA), Hesam Rahmanian (USA,UEA)
The whole thing was mad, absurd, DADA and funny...

Beautiful work by Joe Ngallametta in QAG.
It wasnt a part of the Triennial but I loved it anyway

Three galleries in three months and three times ive found the work of Vincent Namadjira exhibited!
This man's work is going to be huge! 

Had to finish with this colouring in table at QAG
Amelia and I spent a little while here creating patterns with the other kids and parents at the gallery
The program is events of kids at the Asia Pacific Triennial is always brilliant! 

the textures and colours of apt7

I think this detail Sara Rahbar's work sums up the whole Asia Pacific Triennial in Brisbane.... 

Ive been trying to write this post since i arrived back from Brisbane.

I rarely struggle with a blog post, as I usually try and keep them simple, like a diary entry.

But this one has been hard. 

Simply because the 7th Asia Pacific Triennial (APT7) at the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) in Brisbane was...
Incredible. Massive. Detailed. 

And overwhelming. 

Again.

Three years ago I went with my mate Amelia to see this exhibition that had been celebrated and loved for some 17 years. We didn't know what to expect.
And as such, we were completely blown away. 

I remember how excited it made me about art - and more specifically - the contemporary art world. 

This year was no different.

Over two days I learnt a lot about the art and peoples of Papua New Guinea, the emerging artists' of Indonesia, and many places in between.  I realised that the art world is changing, and becoming more diverse in its points of view. As one person eloquently put it: the art world is shifting its boundaries. No longer do we have to look toward New York, London, Paris and Berlin for the experimental artworks and edgy artists. Now we can go to Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka and Tonga - by way of New Zealand!

Anyway.... as you can see... I have a few photos to share with you.

And i hope they give you a tiny idea of how amazing this massive exhibition was.

The APT celebrated its 20th birthday this year.

I cant wait to see where it will be in another 20 years time!

 This is what greeted you as you entered the massive doorway of GOMA!
Brikiti Cultural Group (Abelam Peoples, PNG),  Korumbo (Spirit House) 2012.

( clockwise, from top left)
Aware Peoples from PNG with their ceremonial masks entitled Tabuan Katmut Mut 2011;
Kwoma Arts Project from PNG and their 200 panel Spirit House Ceiling that was mounted on the wall;
Alex Gabour (PNG), and his Ule and Neo (male and female fish Masks) 2011;
 Iatapal Cultural Group (PNG), Mary 2011 headdresses 

Made in Company (China), Spread 201009103, 2010.
This multicoloured installation greeted you as you entered one of the rooms at The
Queensland Art Gallery (QAG) which showcased some of the APT7 artworks. 

(clockwise, from top left)
Solpolemalama Filipe Tohi (Tonga/NZ), Kulasi 2003-12 ,installation of lalava;
Asmat wooden carvings from the Asmat region of Papua;
Sulka Peoples of PNG and their beautiful headdresses;
Sara Rahbar (Iran/USA), and her multi textured recycled flag artworks on the wall

(Clockwise from top left)
Nguyen Manh Hung (Vietnam) and a detail of his amazing installation Living Together in Paradise 2009;
Takahiro Iwasaki (Japan), Reflection Model (Perfect Bliss) 2010-12;
PARAMODEL(Japan), How to Make a Paramodel,  Room Installation,2012;
Huang Yong Ping (China), Ressort 2012, steel water snake sculpture @ QAG

Lorainne Connolly-Northey (Aust),  Narbong (String Bag) Installation 2012;
Shirley Macnarmara (Aust), Wingreeguu 2012, floor installation;
Detail of Lorainne's steel string bag installation (this was an big as me!);
Patrick Freddy Puruntatameri (Aust), Wooden Carving sculptures
and paintings by Timothy Cook (Aust/Tiwi), Tutini 2012

textures//journeys//inspirations

M C A ^  F E B  ^ 2 0 1 3 

Ok . I know Im a little late to the party when it comes to the Amish Kapoor exhibition at the MCA.
This show has be exciting people throughout the Summer months.
And Summer is waving goodbye to us today! 

Can you tell that Im crying a little at this fact?

So - to cheer myself up I thought I would try and catch up on a few summer activities this week. 

And one thing that was at the top of my list was a trip to the MCA to see the Amish Kapoor exhibition.

Now  - I should let you know at this point that Im not going to go into a big review of my impressions of each and every single work, as I have to admit something to you.....

Im not sure if I loved it.

Not all of it anyway.

Don't get me wrong - I love Kapoor's work. His art is awe inspiring, mystical and spiritual - making you think, dream, wonder and laugh.
But on this particular day all I wanted to do was look at the textures and colours that he plays with.
Wax, natural pigments, wood, mirrors and huge amounts of rusted steel - I loved getting up close and having a good look.

But then I got excited about another part of the museum.

The collection of indigenous weavings and paintings by amazing artists' such as Emily Kame Kngwarreye. The colours, the craft, the technique, the connection each work gives me to the land, and the stories stored within the trees, earth and sky makes me happy.
And truly inspired.

So my MCA adventure that afternoon became about finding textures and colours that inspire me - a combination of Kapoor, with the weavings and paintings from the floor below.

Sometimes it's your own journey through a gallery that makes you inspired and excited -  rather than viewing a curated international blockbuster exhibition.

Don't you think?

on the bookshelf: kitty kantilla

Kitty Kantilla by Judith Ryan.... my new addition to the tiny white bookshelf!
Merry Christmas to me...

So we're into the third week of January 

And things are starting to take shape.

sort of...

Ive rediscovered coffee in the morning... as well as the afternoon.

Ive found that staring into space for longer than 5 minutes makes you feel a little loopy but relaxed.

Ive rediscovered my feet after days of extreme heat which forced me to retire my little black boots 

[that my boot-maker lovingly saved from the bin after breathing new life into them.}

And ive also rediscovered books. Non digital, turn paging books with no touch screens and like buttons. Yep. Ive been going back to my roots, sitting at my little wooden desk  .... and reading! 

And loving it.

And one book that has been inspiring me is the NGV's publication on Australian artist Kitty Kantilla.

What an amazing artist she was...

Intuitive, delicate, and complex, Kitty was a true technician of abstract pattern making, as she represented the poetry, colour and culture of the Tiwi peoples within every painting, print and sculpture throughout her career - which spanned nearly 40 years.

I know this book will be a favourite as I start my new series of works...

Let the fun begin!

Love a beautiful image of a hand at work...

Her prints are so soft, delicate and complex.

Colours of the Tiwi culture... 

And patterns that speak of their cultural history.

I think this painting on the right is one of my favourites!

Kitty Kantilla
by Judith Ryan
Published by National Gallery of Victoria
ISBN 9780724102839