23 NOVEMBER 2015

THOUSANDS CONVERGE ON QAGOMA FOR APT8 OPENING

More than 32 000 visitors for APT8 opening weekend, 20–22 November 2015, including:

• More than 5500 people for APT8 Live public programs
• More than 2400 children many visiting GOMA's Children's Art Centre

'The 8th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art' (APT8), internationally renowned as the world's only major recurring exhibition of art from Australia, Asia and the Pacific, opened on the weekend in Brisbane with 32 000 people through the doors of the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) in the exhibition's first three days.

QAGOMA Acting Director Maud Page said that the door count for the opening night events for APT8 was almost 14 000.

'The opening night saw the largest attendance for an APT since the inception of the triennial 22 years ago, reflecting the growth of this important cultural event in the calendars of local, interstate and international visitors.

'The opening weekend of APT8 featured our most ambitious program of events, artist talks, tours and special performances to date,' said Ms Page.

'Over 5 500 visitors attended the first events of APT8 Live, the ongoing program of artist performances and projects that will animate GOMA and QAG monthly throughout the exhibition.'

APT8 Live will continue on 13 December 2015; 31 January; 21 February; 20 March; and the APT8 closing weekend, 9 and 10 April 2016.

A highlight of the weekend was Indonesian artist Melati Suryodarmo's endurance performance I'm a Ghost in My Own House 2012 in which the artist crushed and ground charcoal briquettes into powder and dust for 12 hours.

The performance was recorded and will be replayed on screens in the gallery space, surrounded by hundreds of kilograms of charcoal, which are the remnants of the performance.

APT8 Kids welcomed more than 2400 children to participate in hands-on, interactive and multimedia activities developed by exhibiting artists. 'The Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art' (APT) is QAGOMA's flagship exhibition series focussed on artwork from Australia, Asia and the Pacific.

The Queensland Government is the Founding Supporter of the Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art series. APT8 is made possible with the support of Principal Sponsor Audi Australia, and Principal Partners Tourism and Events Queensland as part of a dynamic calendar of events throughout the State, and the Australia Council for the Arts.

APT8 Live is supported by the Commonwealth through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

APT8 Kids is supported by Principal Benefactor the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation and major sponsor Santos GLNG.

APT8 features works by over 80 artists from more than 30 countries and runs until 10 April 2016. Entry to the exhibition and cinema programs is free.