The Triennial and the painter: Zico Albaiquni

Zico Albaiquni’s paintings are rich with diverse themes and genres from the history of Indonesian art, incorporating early influences from his father’s generation of artists, as well as referencing works that have featured in previous Asia Pacific Triennials and Venice Biennales. From the role of painters in traditional Sundanese contexts to the commodification of Indonesia…

Tcheu Siong’s textile works capture her dreams and visions

Textiles form an intrinsic part of Hmong ceremonial custom, alongside oral traditions, poetry and mythological beliefs, while embroidery, applique and piecework contain keys to sacred symbols. Tcheu Siong moved from the mountains in northern Laos to the city of Luang Prabang in 1996, where, like many Hmong women, she made traditional embroidery to sell in…

5 works to discover at APT9

After a three year wait, ‘The Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art’ (APT9) is back and has taken over the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art with more than 400 artworks by over 80 individuals, collectives and groups that capture the energy of new art being created in Asia, the Pacific and Australia. Spread over…

APT9: An open platform for artists to flourish

‍While the APT has evolved significantly over its now 25 years, ‘The 9th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art’ shares many of the ambitions and ideals that so keenly influenced the first, back in September 1993. Then, as now, there was no thematic rubric. However, like the first, APT9 was built on curatorial travel and…

A boat to carry your dreams

Ali’s Boat brings the powerful and imaginative drawings of Sadik Kwaish Alfraji to a new audience. The children’s book is a poetic story full of dreams and adventure, but also tempered by melancholy. Inspired by a special letter from his young nephew, Ali, the story is also a deeply personal reflection on the artist’s impressions of his childhood in…

The wild world in APT9

The Asia Pacific, a region of incredible beauty and diversity, is grappling with the looming challenges of climate change and environmental degradation in the face of economic and political inertia. It is often artists who fire our imagination on these issues, urging us to consider our relationship with the natural world, the ethics of our…