1999
1999
Tracey Moffatt
This exhibition was prepared to be the major presentation of the IMA in Brisbane for the timing of the 1999 Asia Pacific Triennial at the Queensland Art Gallery, a time when many visitors, local and international, were in Brisbane, and then tour Asia. With Asialink’s financial support, a major catalogue was prepared, distributed in Brisbane and internationally.
The tour was a huge success, Moffatt already known in Korea and Taiwan previously, and this seen as an opportunity to exhibit six significant works by her. She visited Taiwan for the opening, and was treated like a celebrity. At the Artsonje Center in Seoul, the exhibition generated 500 individual media stories and doubled usual attendances with one Saturday recording 1,000 visitors alone – a record number for this prominent venue. The exhibition was well promoted by Artsonje which generated large banners over six-lane highways, and prominent signage through the winding streets of the arts quarter of Seoul (see end pages of this publication). Artsonje Center curator Inju Chang commented that: ‘The exhibition of Tracey Moffatt ended with tremendous success in Seoul. We are delighted to inform you that it was the most highly visited exhibition of Artsonje Center, so far.’
Curator: Michael Snelling
Artist: Tracey Moffatt
Partner: Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane
Tour: Brisbane, Seoul, Kyongju, Taipei (1999-2001)
Sekali Lagi: Australian Artists Revisit Malaysia
Sekali Lagi, meaning ‘once again’, presented new work by eight artists who had all undertaken Asialink Residencies in Malaysia. Serendipitously, all eight worked in three dimensions, so an exhibition of their new work was curatorially sympathetic on this level as well as because of their shared experience. It was thought to be more effective on an artistic, as well as financial, level for the artists all to travel back to Malaysia, rather than just sending their (large, three-dimensional, freight-hungry) work, all made possible because of the generosity of partner and host, Rimbun Dahan, an estate on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur supported by Angela and Hijjas Kasturi. Annette Douglass explained ‘The environment inspired us all into action. Within 48 hours of arriving we were discussing and sorting ideas, setting up studio areas, purchasing and finding materials and sharing a general sense of excitement. We were all curious to hear about each other’s prior residency experience and discovered that each was very different and all challenging, rewarding and pretty fantastic as we talked about the influence it had on us.’
Coordinator: Penelope Aitken
Artists: Sandra Appleby-Lake, Brian Ash,Matthew Calvert, David Castle, Brigid Cole-Adams, Annette Douglass, Rod McLeish, Anne Neil
Partner: Rimbun Dahan
Tour: Kuala Lumpur (1999)
Sekali Lagi: Australian Artists Revisit Malaysia
Sekali Lagi, meaning ‘once again’, presented new work by eight artists who had all undertaken Asialink Residencies in Malaysia. Serendipitously, all eight worked in three dimensions, so an exhibition of their new work was curatorially sympathetic on this level as well as because of their shared experience. It was thought to be more effective on an artistic, as well as financial, level for the artists all to travel back to Malaysia, rather than just sending their (large, three-dimensional, freight-hungry) work, all made possible because of the generosity of partner and host, Rimbun Dahan, an estate on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur supported by Angela and Hijjas Kasturi. Annette Douglass explained ‘The environment inspired us all into action. Within 48 hours of arriving we were discussing and sorting ideas, setting up studio areas, purchasing and finding materials and sharing a general sense of excitement. We were all curious to hear about each other’s prior residency experience and discovered that each was very different and all challenging, rewarding and pretty fantastic as we talked about the influence it had on us.’
Coordinator: Penelope Aitken
Artists: Sandra Appleby-Lake, Brian Ash,Matthew Calvert, David Castle, Brigid Cole-Adams, Annette Douglass, Rod McLeish, Anne Neil
Partner: Rimbun Dahan
Tour: Kuala Lumpur (1999)
A Transit Through Paradise
Asialink responded to the interest in exhibiting prominent individual artists’ work by asking partners to create solo exhibitions which might find particular responses in particular places. The combination of Sri-Lankan born curator Suhanya Raffel, with her excellent links to the Lunuganga Trust in Colombo, the interest in Colombo in Fiona Hall’s work (seen in Other Stories, see above), and the artist’s own mercurial interest in the history and environments of places like Sri Lanka led to a rewarding experience for all concerned. Hall went to Sri Lanka early making new work for the exhibition, staying at the Lunuganga Trust’s estate south of Colombo, and became entranced with aspects of Sri Lankan life which has led her to return frequently to the country and for many there to welcome her with affection. The influence of that project remains in her work, and in Sri Lanka memories, to this day, an excellent example of this program’s on-going reach and impact.
H.E. Kathy Klugman, Australian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka stated: ‘The opening was terrific. Fantastic response and a good turn-out. Good press and there is a lot of interest in the Asialink program…. Fiona was well received by the Sri Lankans. Her work struck a chord. It was also terrific to have an artist of her standing and with her accomplishments come. This was noticed and appreciated by the Sri Lankans…. The whole experience was a great success. A very positive experience…The visit was also a terrific first step in the partnership with the Lunuganga Trust. As with any young relationship, first impressions matter a lot and Fiona made a good impression. Her visit whet the appetite for future projects. We at the High Commission feel privileged that Australia has managed to develop this relationship.’
Curator: Suhanya Raffel
Artist: Fiona Hall
Partner: Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane
Tour: Colombo (1999)
Internal Travel
A similar solo exhibition of leading Australian artist Hossein Valamanesh was prepared for Lahore, the cultural centre of Pakistan, with Hossein and Angela Valamanesh traveling beforehand to prepare new work for the show.
Curator: Alison Carroll
Artist: Hossein Valamanesh
Partner: National College of Arts, Lahore
Tour: Lahore (1999)
The work by Valamanesh, growing up in neighbouring Iran which is often reflected in his imagery and aesthetic, was both instinctively understood in Lahore, and provocative because of how he extended this to new ideas and different expressions. Understanding Urdu, Valamanesh provided a foil to the simplistic idea of ‘Australia’, as well as producing work that promoted comments from the visitor’s book: ‘I’ve never quite experienced the atmosphere that exists in this gallery as I write. This is amazing’ and ‘this is the best one-person exhibition ever at the NCA.’ An image of this exhibition, with the work on the floor made in Lahore, is on the cover of this publication – an evocation of the particularities of place and work that inspires such comments.