This summer, visitors to the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) will discover more than 400 artworks by over 80 individuals, collectives and groups with ‘The 9th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art’ (APT9) open from tomorrow.

QAGOMA Director Chris Saines said APT9 was an expansive free exhibition that captured the energy of new art being created in Asia, the Pacific and Australia.

‘Developed by our specialist team of QAGOMA curators, APT9 presents some of the most exciting and important contemporary art being created in the region, including major new commissions designed for the Gallery’s signature spaces,’ Mr Saines said.

‘Following three years of curatorial travel and extensive research, the ninth edition of our flagship exhibition series offers an accessible contemporary art experience across the entire Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA), including the Children’s Art Centre and the Australian Cinémathèque, and key spaces at the Queensland Art Gallery (QAG) until 28 April 2019.'

Arts Minister Leeanne Enoch said APT had bolstered Queensland as a must-see destination since 1993.

'Each APT enriches our understanding of the social and cultural fabric of the Asia Pacific, and engages us with the ideas and experiences of life in Asia, the Pacific and Australia as expressed by contemporary artists,' Minister Enoch said.

'APT has attracted more than three million visitors over its 25-year history. Most recently in 2015, APT8 attracted an audience of more than 600,000 visitors, delivering an estimated $21.83 million to the Queensland economy.'

The exhibition includes eight interactive projects developed by artists especially for children and families in APT9 Kids, regionally-focused cinema programs such as ‘New Bollywood: Currents in Indian Cinema’ and 'Microwave Films of the Marshall Islands', and a public program of artist talks, tours, discussions, performances and drop-in workshops.

Minister Leeanne Enoch said audiences travelling to Queensland from interstate and overseas to visit the APT, could anticipate an enlightening and immersive exhibition full of surprises.

‘We encourage everyone to come and experience the Triennial this weekend and return for visits all through summer,’ Minister Enoch said.

Selected highlights of APT9 include:

• APT9 Artist Conversations. This weekend, hear from artists: Kim Beom, Nona Garcia, Tada Hengsapkul, Jonathan Jones, Karrabing Film Collective, Yuko Mohri, Anne Noble, Lisa Reihana and Areta Wilkinson.
  
• This weekend, Marshallese poet, teacher and artist Kathy Jetñil-Kijiner will give two performances of Lorro: Of Wings and Seas 2018 highlighting her engagement with JAKI-ED weaving as a site of cultural resistance and expression.
  
• Unveiled for the first time in APT9 are Iranian-born artist Iman Raad’s riotously colourful mural and embroidered velvet banners referencing Persian miniature painting, Iranian folk art and Pakistani truck painting.
  
• Encounter a huge, hand-rendered map on GOMA’s Long Gallery wall by leading Chinese artist Qiu Zhijie that depicts an archipelago of technology-related moral quandaries.
  
• Filipino artist Nona Garcia’s graphic installation for APT9 utilises the Queensland Art Gallery’s large glass windows as light boxes for a mandala installation created from X-rayed animal bones.
  
• For the duration of APT9, Japanese artist Yuko Mohri’s sound installation of modified pianos and found objects will play an elegant musical composition in GOMA’s River Lounge extending onto the outdoor veranda.
  
• Women’s Wealth is a specially commissioned project for APT9 that includes the premiere of a new video by Taloi Havini textiles, pottery and body adornment by women artists from the Autonomous Region of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands archipelago as well as Australia.
  
• Australian artist Jonathan Jones’ installation untitled (giran) 2018, is a major new work for APT9 comprising sound and almost 2000 winged sculptures evoking birds in collective flight.
  
• New Zealand photographer Anne Noble’s Conversation: A cabinet of wonder 2018, is a multi-part installation that includes a fully functioning bee hive.
  
• The APT9 all-ages Summer Festival from 18-20 January 2019 will include artist workshops, performances, tours, live music, films and storytelling. A special one-night only edition of Up Late with live music by Ngaiire (Syd), Bottlesmoker (Indonesia), May Lyn (Brisbane), plus performances, DJs, talks, art-making and more will be held on 18 January. Up Late tickets on sale Friday 23 November qagoma.qld.gov.au/uplate.