TAASA Review Issues

Asian art enthusiasts will not hunger for inspiration this spring. The Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art will open in September with a bang as artist Cai Guo Qiang ignites his Dragon or Rainbow Serpent (Fire Dragon) over the Brisbane River. In this issue of TAASA Review Rhana Davenport reports on the work of some of the more than 100 artists participating. Although the exhibition itself continues until January, many of the artists will be present for the Triennial conference ‘Present Encounters’ from 27 – 29 September. Conference details can be found in our ‘Reviews and Previews’ section.

At the same time Brisbane focuses on contemporary art, Sydney will resonate with centuries-old Tibetan Buddhist teachings. His Holiness the Dalai Lama assisted by some 20 monks will confer the Kalachakra Initiation in Sydney from 21 – 29 September. Considered one of the most sacred of teachings, the Kalachkra Initiation has been performed only some half a dozen times outside of India and Tibet. Also in this issue of the Review Gerry Virtue introduces us to the meanings behind this significant ceremony.

Melbourne will host an international conference on ‘The Chinese in Australasia and Oceania’ from 21 – 22 September. (Details in ‘Reviews and Previews’). Whatever event you choose to attend will surely further the enlivening spirit of cross -cultural encounter that seems to be in the air.

The TAASA Committee of Management has been further strengthened recently by the addition of Suzanne Chee and Ann Guild. Ann has long been active in the TAASA Textile Group. Suzanne is now working on a Powerhouse project to catalogue artefacts in the 100-year old Yiu Ming Temple in Alexandria, New South Wales which she will write about for our next issue. James Bennet, who wrote on contemporary Indonesian and Australian batik in TAASA Review, vol. 5, no. 1 joins us as interstate representative for the Northern Territory.

At its last meeting the Committee of Management voiced gratitude to Anne baker for her superlative work in organising the Wednesday evening study sessions of the Textile Group. Anne has had to resign this role, but Textile Group members are joining forces to see that the popular and informative format Anne created is maintained.