The 7th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art

The Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art is the Queensland Art Gallery’s flagship contemporary art event that focuses exclusively on the art of Asia, the Pacific and Australia. Since the first Triennial in 1993, over 1.8 million people have visited the exhibitions. APT7 in 2012-13 will mark the 20th anniversary since the first APT.

The event is distinguished from other international art biennials and triennials by its extensive acquisition program and commissioning focus. It will present an opportunity to explore new developments in works from the region, as well as to reflect on the past two decades of contemporary art from it.

The first three Triennials demonstrated the diversity of contemporary art practice across the region, profiling 220 artists from 20 different countries. APT 2002 was radically different in that it considered developments in contemporary art over recent decades through in-depth explorations of 16 individual artists. APT5 (2006) continued to develop this new model and featured a selection of works from 35 artists and two multi-artist projects. In 2009, APT6 profiled the work of over 100 artists from 25 countries, including a number of artists and artist collaborations never seen in Australia before. It was the largest curated exhibition presented by an art museum in Australia.

The highly acclaimed Kids’ APT program features commissioned interactive artworks by exhibiting artists. Kids’ APT is an integral part of the exhibition series, aiming to engage young visitors with the ideas and work of contemporary artists from across the region. The APT regional programs include artist residencies, regional Queensland internships and education programs.

Since 2006, the Gallery’s Australian Cinémathèque has curated film programs as a key component of APT. The thematic film programs profile diverse video and filmmaking practices, genres and practitioners working across cinema and contemporary art. With their sole focus on the contemporary art of Asia, Australia and the Pacific, the accompanying APT publications, academic papers and public programs contribute to critical scholarship and research into art of the region.

The APT series offers a unique educational experience for primary, secondary and tertiary students. Teachers and students are offered multiple entry points to engage with the exhibition including virtual tours, teacher notes and worksheets, which provide links to the curriculum and activities for the classroom.

APT7 takes place from 8 December 2012 until 14 April 2013.