Annual Review 2018

Prof Ian O’Connor ac , Chair, Queensland Art Gallery Board of Trustees; DrZara Stanhope, Curatorial Manager, Asian and Pacific Art, QAGOMA; TheHon. Annastacia Palaszczuk mp , Premier and Minister for Trade; TheHon. Leeanne Enoch mp , Minister for the Arts; and Chris Saines cnzm , Director, QAGOMA at the Official Opening of APT9 / Photograph: Joe Ruckli The Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) saw out 2018 on a high note, with ‘The 9th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art’ attracting large numbers of visitors across both buildings following weeks of intense construction and installation, not least including the onsite production of several large-scale commissions. APT9 has drawn consistent praise for its thoughtful response to the art of the region and is, by increasing critical agreement, one of the best to date. Looking back, 2018 opened with exhibitions by two of the world’s most celebrated artists, Yayoi Kusama and Gerhard Richter, which made way for major solo exhibitions by two leading Australian artists: the brilliantly revealing text-based assemblages of Queensland prodigal son Tony Albert and the fantastical, challenging creations of the renowned Patricia Piccinini. The activation of James Turrell’s landmark architectural light work Night Life 2018 transformed the banks of the Maiwar (Brisbane River) in July and gave new life to GOMA at night. We were thrilled to present, for the first time, the Brisbane International Film Festival, a global celebration of cinema. On top of all of this, we celebrated a number of extraordinary gifts, staged a range of innovative new programs and welcomed 1.46 million visitors. For the support to do all of this and more, the Gallery thanks Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Arts Minister Leeanne Enoch, the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Department of Environment and Science and Arts Queensland. We acknowledge too our diverse supporters, committed sponsors and generous donors. I would like to thank our Chair, Professor Ian O’Connor ac , and Deputy Chair Rick Wilkinson, the Board of Trustees, QAGOMA Foundation President Tim Fairfax ac and the Foundation Committee, alongside the Gallery’s indefatigable Executive Management Team and staff. Most importantly, I want to acknowledge the wider community, those that bring our buildings to life in many ways: the artists, visitors and supporters who make possible this vital cultural sanctuary. CHRIS SAINES CNZM DIRECTOR, QAGOMA 5 FROM THE DIRECTOR