The 8th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art has been experienced by over 500,000 visitors since it opened last November. Featuring artworks of 83 artists from 36 different countries, it is the only recurring exhibition to solely focus on contemporary art for Australia, Asia and the Pacific. This exciting program of events comes to a close this Sunday.
Wael Shawky: Cabaret Crusades
As a closing weekend special event, GOMA will host the Australian Premiere of Wael Shawky: Cabaret Crusades. This is a contemporary international masterpiece of 6 years in the making, by Egyptian artist Wael Shawky who is acclaimed for his films and installations which explore political, religious and historical narratives. A monumental project, Shawky developed Cabaret Crusades using exquisitely-made wood, ceramic and glass marionettes. The trilogy re-enacts events from the Crusades of the Middle Ages, resulting in a significant body of work that deftly blends film, theatre, literature and music. The trilogy will air for FREE at GOMA’s Australian Cinémathèque, commencing at 1.00pm Sunday 10 April.
Super Critical Mass: Final Workshops and Massed Performances
Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 April
Join APT8 artists Julian Day and Luke Jaaniste for final workshops and massed performances as part of their ongoing project Open Plans: Coordinating Space 2015-16. The Australian artists have been holding free, public workshops using Museum Victoria’s Federation Handbells since the opening weekend of APT8 last November. Two final massed, collaborative performances this Saturday and Sunday will fill the Queensland Art Gallery and GOMA with the ringing vibrations of the bells. Final chance to participate and contribute to the performance: 11.00am Saturday 9 April. Massed performances will take place at 1.30pm Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 April.
For more info, click here
Justin Shoulder and Bhenji Ra – Ex Nilang: Incarnations performance
12.00pm Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 April
After crowd-favourite performances across the APT8 Opening Weekend, Justin Shoulder and Bhenji Ra bring their fantastical creatures back to QAGOMA with spectacular shows highlighting the connections between queer, migrant and intercultural identities. Shoulder and Ra use intricately crafted costumes, prostheses, masks, movement and sound to transform into reimagined characters from traditional mythology and folklore. Performances start at either QAG or GOMA and travel across the Cultural Precinct – visitors are encouraged to engage with the bright and colourful characters.
Though APT8 prepares to bid farewell to Brisbane, visitors will long remember the vibrancy of a contemporary art event which combined interactive performances, sculpture, paintings, film, music and much more. It is the culmination of a three year artist selection process, which took QAGOMA’s experienced curatorial team throughout Asia and the Pacific to source the new works for the project.
The APT8 exhibition closes on Sunday 10 April. For further information, visit the QAGOMA website.
The Garb Wire 