Highlights of APT7

The 7th Asia Pacific Triennale of Contemporary Art (APT7) courtesy Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) and Queensland Art Gallery (QAG) in Brisbane is renowned for being probably the lone major event to exclusively focus on contemporary art trends from Asia, the Pacific and Australia.

Now in its seventh edition, it continues its founder’s forward-thinking vision and approach to explore history and culture in context of current scenario and geography, to fathom how the prevailing issues are explored in the work of talented and innovative artists of this era.

• In keeping with its original motto, the younger-generation artists are drawing special attention this year too, at the flagship contemporary art exhibit of Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art. Incidentally, this edition marks the 20th anniversary of the APT. It presents an excellent opportunity and opening for reflecting on the major transformations, which have taken place in the Asia-Pacific region over the last couple of decades.
• Two co-curated projects explore specific focuses. Works from Papua New Guinea include a spectacular group of performance masks and painted and carved structures from New Britain and the Sepik, co-curated by architect Martin Fowler. Dominating the entrance and central atrium of the Gallery of Modern Art, this display reflects the idea of ephemeral structures, a central motif of APT7, and considers how the built environment influences people’s engagement with their surroundings and connection to place. To mark the twentieth anniversary of the APT, artists have also been invited to interpret archives from across the region for the 20-Year Archive.
• Key themes to consider include transforming landscapes at a broader level, varied individual engagements with the city, and the local culture’s adaptability in today's globalized world. APT7 features a wide array of new and recent works by 75 artists and artist groups – both senior and emerging - from 27 nations across the region. These include works of eminent contemporary Indian artists, namely Rina Banerjee, Sheila Makhijani, Neha Choksi, Raqib Shaw, Dayanita Singh as well as major new commissions by Atul Dodiya and LN Tallur.