APT8 breaks 600 000 attendance

 

‘The 8th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art’ (APT8) came to a close on Sunday, with more than 600 000 people experiencing the critically-acclaimed exhibition since it opened in November 2015.

Attendance continued to build after the record opening weekend that attracted more than 30 000 visitors and this Triennial had been the most highly attended since APT5 (2006-07), which coincided with the opening of GOMA with combined attendances to the Gallery’s flagship Asia Pacific Triennial exhibition series since its inception in 1993 now total more than 3 million.

Local, interstate and international audiences have embraced APT8 for its timeliness and relevance to contemporary issues in the region, and its exploration of sometimes challenging ideas. It has been well received by visitors of all ages. This flagship exhibition has been a major visitor drawcard for the Gallery for more than 20 years, touching hearts and minds across the globe and providing a fascinating social and cultural insight through the eyes of the Asia Pacific region’s contemporary artists, an area that represents more than half of the world’s population.

With Government funding and the generosity of many Gallery benefactors through the QAGOMA Foundation, we have acquired 70 per cent of artworks exhibited in APT8 for the Gallery’s Collection, further enhancing our world renowned holdings of contemporary Asian and Pacific art.

APT8 Live – the Gallery’s first foray into hosting an ongoing program of live performances and special events throughout the Triennial – was a major driver for audiences, with more than 44 000 visitors engaging in the program from November 2015 to April 2016.

‘Pop Islam’, ‘Filipino Indie’ and ‘Lav Diaz’, the three curated film programs running in conjunction with APT8 reached new audiences with screenings at the Australian Cinémathèque.

The diverse APT8 Kids program of artist-developed activities was a hit with families with more than one fifth of all attendees being children. Artist Lawrence English’s work Everyday Whispers attracted over 20 000 voice-recorded wishes while 40 000 paper tiputas – poncho-like garments – were created in Rosanna Raymond’s Play with Your Birds and 28 000 drawing templates used in Venkat Raman Singh Shyman’s The Woman and the Parrot. Select APT8 Kids activities will remain open in the Children’s Art Centre at GOMA until 15 May.

The Queensland Government is the Founding Supporter
of the Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art series.

APT8 was made possible with the support of Principal Sponsor Audi Australia,
and Principal Partners Tourism and Events Queensland as part of a dynamic calendar of events throughout the State, and the Australia Council for the Arts.

APT8 Kids was supported by Principal Benefactor the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation and major sponsor Santos GLNG.

APT8 Live was supported by the Commonwealth through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.