Maria Taniguchi, the winner of this year’s Hugo Boss Asia Art Award is best known for her ongoing series of large ‘brick’ paintings in which she arranges a consistent grid pattern into different surface configurations. Taniguchi emphasises the performative nature of these paintings, the way in which she first draws out a grid on the canvas and then paints in one brick at a time. Despite their predetermined composition, the surfaces of these paintings are not uniform or static. In works such as Untitled 2014 and Untitled 2015 gradations of shade are achieved by varying the amount of water and acrylic and become discernible as the viewer moves in front of the painting. The repetitive process of Taniguchi’s paintings can be viewed as a form of organising structure in the context of the densely populated urban environment of Manila. The paintings are exhibited leaning on the ground, affording them a sculptural quality and reinforcing their relationship to minimal art.
‘The 8th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art’ (APT8) is at the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art until 10 April 2016 . Entry to the exhibition is free.
The APT8 publication features a suite of richly illustrated essays by the exhibition’s curators providing insights into artists’ practices and drawing connections between works from across the region. These are contextualised with a discussion by a group of leading artists and specialists on key issues behind recent tendencies in contemporary art in the Asia Pacific. The publication also includes details of the Kids APT and cinema programs, and a comprehensive exhibition checklist. A children’s book accompanies APT8 Kids onsite and APT8 Kids on Tour will see a selection of the exhibition activities presented to children and families in regional and remote Queensland.
The Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT)
is the Gallery’s flagship exhibition focused on the work of Asia, the Pacific and Australia.
21 November 2015 – 10 April 2016
Exhibition Founding Sponsor: Queensland Government
Exhibition Principal Sponsor: Audi Australia