The study of Asian art in Australia

Abstract

Studies of contemporary Asian art have flourished in Australia over the last few decades alongside the burgeoning contemporary art scene in Asia and growing global interest in contemporary Asian art. I first came to learn about contemporary Asian art in the early 1990s, a time of dynamic cultural relations between Asia and Australia, including the growth of new art partnerships, collaborations, and exchanges – especially through the ‘Artists’ Regional Exchange’ (ARX, formerly Australia and Regions Exchange, 1987–99) exhibitions, the Arts Program at ‘Asialink’ founded by Alison Carroll focusing on art exhibition exchanges and artist residencies in Asia, the arts organisation ‘Multimedia Art Asia–Pacific’ (MAAP) (now Media Art Asia– Pacific) led by Kim Machan exploring media art in Asia, and the Queensland Art Gallery’s (QAG) ground-breaking ‘Asia–Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art’ (APT) exhibition series beginning in 1993.