A fun, interactive component of the forthcoming ‘The 11th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art’, designed especially for children and families, is now on display at the Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane.

Asia Pacific Triennial Kids brings together a range of free hands-on and multimedia activities that celebrate the rich diversity of ideas and cultures from across the region.

Featuring seven projects developed by artists from Aotearoa New Zealand, Cambodia, India Malaysia, Saudi Arabia/Palestine and Timor-Leste, Asia Pacific Triennial Kids celebrates themes such as tradition and innovation, the importance of community collaboration, and nature as inspiration.

Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) Director, Chris Saines CNZM, said Asia Pacific Triennial Kids was a great way to inspire children and encourage them to engage with contemporary cultures.

‘A dynamic dimension of the Gallery’s flagship exhibition series, our children’s projects offer younger audiences firsthand experiences that connect them with the ideas of diverse artists,’ Mr Saines said.

‘As installation continues on the 11th Asia Pacific Triennial, we’re very pleased to open the Children’s Art Centre early for an enticing glimpse at what the Triennial will offer across both QAG and GOMA from 30 November.’

QAGOMA gratefully acknowledges the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation’s generous support of Asia Pacific Triennial Kids and Asia Pacific Triennial Kids on Tour.

Participating with projects designed for children are artists Dana Awartani (Saudi Arabia/Palestine), Etson Caminha (Timor‑Leste), Harold ‘Egn’ Eswar (Malaysia), Brett Graham (Aotearoa New Zealand), Okui Lala (Malaysia), Yim Maline (Cambodia) and Rithika Merchant (India).

The mascot for Asia Pacific Triennial Kids is based on a drawing by participating artist Harold ‘Egn’ Eswar’s daughter, Hana. Called Mahu (meaning ‘want’ in Malay), the mascot will help visitors of all ages navigate the broader Asia Pacific Triennial with special labels for kids.

Mahu stems from Egn’s project Monster of Wants 2024, which asks children to think about the things they want or think they need and draw a monster whose characteristics reflect these desires.

Another exciting project, ‘Have you ever tried to listen to the sound of Brisbane?’ 2024 by Malaysian artist Okui Lala, invited bilingual and multilingual students from Brisbane’s West End State School to participate in two video projects. In her practice, Okui sometimes creates video works exploring what changes or is lost when words are translated from one language to another.

Also included are hands-on making activities by Dana Awartani and Brett Graham that take inspiration from nature and their cultural heritages.

Children are invited to shape a new world with Rithika Merchant’s If the Seeds Chose Where to Grow, a multimedia interactive experience that asks them to add beings, plants and celestial bodies to a projected landscape.

Opening in late October, Etson Caminha’s My Kitchen Sounds 2024 invites children to experiment with layering sounds from everyday objects that the artist has recorded; and a drawing project by Yim Maline presents drawings from children in Cambodia and encourages visitors to create their own drawings of their hopes for the future.

Asia Pacific Triennial Kids on Tour will present the seven artists projects throughout remote and regional Queensland from January 2025.

Coinciding with the official opening of ‘The 11th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art’ will be ‘Asia Pacific Triennial Kids: Outdoors’, a collaboration with the Brisbane City Council Outdoor Gallery to transform the city with artwork displays connected to Asia Pacific Triennial Kids.

Asia Pacific Triennial Kids will be displayed across the Children’s Art Centre and other spaces in the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA). Entry is free and select projects will be available online.

‘The 11th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art’ will be on display at QAGOMA across both Gallery buildings from 30 November until 25 April 2025. Entry is free.

Asia Pacific Triennial Kids and Asia Pacific Triennial Kids on Tour are supported by Principal Benefactor, the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation.

'The 11th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art’ is made possible by Founding Supporter the Queensland Government and Principal Partner Creative Australia; and is supported by Strategic Partner Tourism and Events Queensland; Principal Benefactor Haymans Electrical & Data Supplies; Major Partners Shayher Group, Urban Art Projects, Gadens and Crumpler; and Grantor the Office for the Arts.

For the full lists of artists and supporters visit here

ENDS