2005-06 Report

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18 QUEENSLAND ART GALLERY ANNUAL REPORT 05/06 / collection
contemporary interpretations of the traditional Melanesian
arts of wood and shell carving. Baidam 2006 is a large-scale
linocut based on traditional stories and teachings about the
reading of constellations.
ASIAN AND PACIFIC ART
Significant Collection acquisitions continued in the areas of
Asian and Pacific art in 2005–06. A number of works were
commissioned or acquired for APT5.
Ai Weiwei is an influential figure in contemporary Chinese art
through his multiple roles as artist, architect, curator, editor
and publisher. His iconoclastic works fuse a conceptual art
practice with traditional artefacts to challenge the authority
of cultural value, meaning and authenticity. Six major works
by Ai Weiwei were acquired during the year, ranging from
photography, Dada-esque sculptures created from Qing
dynasty (1644–1911) tables, to shards of Northern Wei
dynasty (386–535) sculpture.
The contemporary exploration of miniature painting is a
particular strength of the Gallery’s contemporary Asian
collection. Pakistani artist Saira Wasim’s delicately crafted
paintings interrogate contemporary political issues, religious
prejudice and social injustice. During the year, the Gallery
acquired five works by this important young artist: Holy
matrix, Lamentation of innocence (Genocide), Drawing
‘Mission accomplished?’, Where we went wrongand Untitled,
all 2005.
Video and photography have been significant areas of
artistic development in China over the last two decades, and
Yang Zhenzhong is a leading exponent. In the photographic
series Light and easy 2002, the city of Shanghai forms the
backdrop for the artist to engage with ideas of contemporary
Chinese urbanisation, and the clash between traditional and
new ways of life.
The acquisition of nine photographs by Japanese artist
Tsuyoshi Ozawa from his ‘Vegetable weapon’ series was a
major highlight for the Gallery during the year. Ozawa is one
of Japan’s most important conceptual artists of his
generation. His ‘Vegetable weapon’ series suggests the
power of communication, as well as the need to be sensitive
to differing cultural beliefs and values.
During the year, the Gallery received a significant donation of
contemporary Thai art from the collection of the late Peera
Ditbunjong and his wife Annabel Anderson. The donation
includes important early works by seminal artists Montien
Boonma and Vasan Sitthiket, amongst others. This generous
gift positions the Gallery as the pre-eminent public collector
of contemporary Thai art in Australia.
The acquisition of 12 works by Niuean/New Zealand artist
John Pule continued the Gallery’s policy of collecting
substantial bodies of work by key Pacific artists. Pule
generously gifted two early canvases and eight prints to the
Gallery, while the triptych Tukulagi tukumuitea (Forever and
ever)2005 and a suite of drawings entitled Lagaki (To lift)
2000–05 were also purchased. Pule’s work addresses
themes of migration, mythology and place.
As one of the most pervasive and innovative art forms in the
Pacific, weaving is identified as a major collecting focus for
the Gallery. The I yara yara(Baby mat) by Finau Mara is an
example of the vibrant weaving traditions of the South
Pacific. In addition, the Gallery acquired 15 noken (string
bags) by seven artists from West Papua. Both the noken and
I yara yararepresent the innovative practices of
contemporary Pacific artists, who continue to use traditional
techniques as well as incorporate new materials and motifs.
INTERNATIONAL ART
Several key acquisitions expanded the Gallery’s holdings of
international art.
The cubic structural evolution project2004, by the
internationally renowned artist Olafur Eliasson, is an
exceptional recent Gallery acquisition, and has already been
a highlight of two of the Gallery’s Children’s Art Centre
exhibitions — ‘The Nature Machine’ (2004–05) and ‘Made
for this World’ (2005–06). With Lego blocks as the building
material, visitors actively participate in the construction of an
environment in a continual state of flux.
The acquisition of Aernout Mik’s Pulverous2003 during the
year demonstrated the Gallery’s commitment to collecting
important moving-image works. Mik has emerged as a
pioneering figure in international video installation, and
Pulverousmerges projected image, architecture and
performance to produce a compelling work.
Another key acquisition for international art during the year,
Thomas Ruff’s Substrat 19 1 2003 represents a strong
addition to the Gallery’s collection of international
photography. Ruff’s ‘Substrat’ series emerges from the
artist’s exploration of the digital realm of the internet. The
works derive from manipulated Japanese manga and anime
images which have been reprocessed so only the intensity of
colour is maintained, and any representational code is
overlaid to the point of incoherence.
Two significant recent acquisitions demonstrate the
strengths of the Gallery’s growing contemporary international
sculpture collection. Tobias Putrih’s Macula A/-52005 —
made of corrugated cardboard and standing at 2.4 metres
Vasan Sitthiket
Thailand b.1957
Sinners are gunmen who serve the
mafia and tyranny, oppressing peaceful
men to be afraid, doing unlawful
business, making trouble everywhere.
They will be surrounded by flocks of
hungry dogs and crows gathering to
eat them, they will die and be reborn
again and again for five hundred
kalpas(from ‘Inferno’ series) 1991
Synthetic polymer paint on canvas,
210 x 210cm
Sinners are weapon merchants; who
profit from suffering and devastation.
Their heads will be hanged down in
cave of conflagration; hitting each other
to death (from ‘Inferno’ series) 1991
Synthetic polymer paint on canvas,
210 x 210cm
Gift of Peera Ditbunjong through the
Queensland Art Gallery Foundation 2005