Presentation

Regional Biennales and new Art Centers in Asia. Similarities between the APT and the FT (Part1)

Text 1: Caroline Turner: Cultural Transformations in the Asia-Pacific - The Asia-Pacific-Triennial and the Fukuoka-Triennale compared

There is a dynamic shift in the exhibition practice of contemporary art in the Asian region: the concept of a recurring, international exhibition, the Triennale/ Biennale has been especially embraced in the region in the last decades (earliest Triennales/Biennales in Asia: The Indian Triennale, in New Delhi, founded in 1986, The Asian Art Biennale in Bangladesh, founded in 1981)

What is “Asia-Pacific-Culture”?

• Problematic term, because there is no cultural homogeneity in the region.
•  In the 1990s: rising significance of interregional groupings through political and economic issues. 
• “Asia has been a form of discourse”, a construct to counterpoint the “West” or ”Europe”.

The Fukuoka Asian Art Triennale (Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, Japan)

The Asia-Pacific-Triennial (Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane, Australia)

- Founded in 1999 (every 5 years), before called Asian Art Show, which began already in 1979/1980        - “located at the frontier of Asia” a geographical and wartime role  - Does not consider itself completely an Asian country, has ambivalent relationships        - Museum based exhibition        - Audience-centred and artist-driven exhibition        - Triennale in a provincial city, but considered a “natural gateway” to Asia

- Founded in 1993 (every 3 years) -  “located at the frontier of Asia” à geographical and through its history of white colonialism à does not see itself completely as an Asian country/ ambivalent relationships         - Museum based exhibition         - Audience-centred and artist-driven exhibition         - Triennal in provincial city, but “natural gateway” to Asia