4A CENTRE FOR CONTEMPORARY ASIAN ART 2012 REPORT INTRODUCTION

2012 was an extraordinary year. We presented one of our most ambitious programs to date, which saw the support of artistic projects in our local community, exhibitions from up-and-coming artists working on the world stage, a touring exhibition through regional NSW and a highly regarded presentation of Australian artists in China. 4A’s breadth of local, regional, national and international participation creates viable networks and pathways for Australian artists into the Asia-Pacific Region, reaffirming 4A’s position as a pioneer and leader in the Asian-Australian cultural landscape. 2012 also saw us implement a highly successful education program, in the Emerging Curators’ Intensive Workshop, which will become an ongoing component of our annual program. Designed to facilitate critical dialogue and to support the development of early stage curators through the two, one- week workshops saw 10 young curators from around Australia engage with a highly respected international curator working in the Asian contemporary art context, as well as other local colleagues working in a variety of institutions and organisations around Sydney and from Australia. In our inaugural year, we invited preeminent Chinese artist and curator Qiu Zhijie to Sydney to lead the program, he also presented a lecture at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney. Impressed by the initiative, Qiu Zhijie, invited two of these young curators to participate in The Academy of Reciprocal Enlightenment, which was a component of his 9th Shanghai Biennale, and a course for young curators from around the world, taught by international curators, writers and critics. The highlight for 2012 was 4A’s presentation at the 9th Shanghai Biennale. We were the only Australian organisation invited to participate in the Inter-City Pavilions Project, a key component of the Biennale. We presented 5 Australian artists and an artist collective, commissioned 4 new works, as well as produced a publication (to be released in May 2013). This was an important opportunity to present Australian art and culture to international audiences in one of China’s premier contemporary art festivals, with over 50,000 visitors for the period of the exhibition. In the chaotic context of the Biennale, we produced a complex and, I believe, an elegant exhibition as a result of the support of the artists and the tireless work of the 4A team, in particular the Assistant Curator, Toby Chapman, and interns Lorraine Chung and Joanna Bayndrian. The exhibition The Floating Eye was highly regarded and delivered in an extremely short timescale. Closer to home, 2012 also saw 4A projects being delivered in regional NSW, through a partnership with Kultour and M&GNSW. We have been touring Dadang Christanto’s Survivor, which we first presented in 2009, a project which sees him work closely with the various venues, and working collaboratively with volunteers from the local area. National and international touring sees our work reach a much broader audience, and 2012 saw a number of attendance records being Front page: YOUNG-HAE CHANG HEAVY INDUSTRIES. made. THE SLICKEST LITTLE KOREAN SCUMBAG DOWN UNDER, 4A’s program is unique, and I believe we are doing work which is world class, 2012 Commissioned by 4A. Photography Susannah Wimberley and through our networks which we have built up over many years, positioning

This page: Australia in the contemporary art discourse of the Asia Pacific Region. 4A’s He Xiangyu success is possible through the support of our donors and government partners, Installation view of Cola Project, 2012 Photography Garry Trinh their support has allowed us to plan and implement a program that is relevant and innovative. 4A is well placed, as a pioneer contemporary Asian Art organisation operating in a global context, to deliver projects of both local and international relevance. 2012 saw the departure of 4A’s Chairman, Daniel Droga. With his insight, understanding and most of all, enthusiasm, Daniel steered the organisation into its current successful model. We would not be the organisation we are today, producing the scale and complexity of our current program, without Daniel’s tireless work. We bade farewell, also to Program Manager Summar Hipworth. Summar joined us in mid-2009 returning to Australia after a decade in London studying and working in a number of prestigious contemporary art organisations and artist studios. In her time with us, Summar has worked on key artist projects and she has overseen and driven much of the administrative transformation of 4A. While it is sad to see valued members of our close-knit team leave, I am immensely proud of the work we have achieved together, I’d like to extend my thanks and gratitude to the Board, who have guided us through another successful year, and also to the 4A staff, who operate under immense pressures, yet deliver a program of complexity and depth which belies the size of our organisation.

Aaron Seeto Director, 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art 2012 SNAPSHOT

In 2012 4A developed 8 exhibitions

Presented work regionally and internationally at Australia Council for the Arts, Sydney; Campbelltown Arts Centre, Sydney; Shanghai Biennale, China; and toured to Gosford Regional Gallery, Lismore Regional Gallery and The Glasshouse, Port Macquarie

Engaged 43 artists in our Program, comprising 29 Australian artists and 14 international artists

Commissioned 25 new works by Australian and overseas artists

Developed 2 projects in the local Haymarket area

Presented a critical education program for early stage Curators

Delivered a fully-booked keynote lecture at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia

Mentored three emerging artists for an exhibition to be presented 2013

Had 113,260 people visit our exhibitions

He Xiangyu Installation view of Cola Project, 2012 Photography Garry Trinh EXHIBITION VISITATIONEXHIBITION VISITATION Venue Exhibition/Event Exhibition Visitation Number of Dates days Artists/speakers 4A Exhibition at Australia Council for the Arts Australia Council 23 December 58 1,450 6 for the Arts, 2011 – Sydney Office 21 March 2012

Cinema Alley Parker Street at 3 February 2012 1 935 Event cancelled on 4A night due to rain. Visitation represents EventBrite bookings Edge of Elsewhere 4A Centre for 14 January – 51 2,690 14 Contemporary 3 March 2012 Asian Art

Campbelltown 14 January – 66 14,226 Arts Centre 18 March 2012

He Xiangyu – Cola Project 4A Centre for 14 March – 51 2,686 1 Contemporary 5 May 2012 Asian Art

Variable Truth 4A Centre for 25 May – 51 1,889 9 Contemporary 14 July 2012 Asian Art

Ken and Julia Yonetani – What the Birds Knew 4A Centre for 3 August – 86 3,698 2 Contemporary 3 November Asian Art 2012

The Floating Eye – Inter City Pavilion, 9th Shanghai Biennale No. 153, Nanjing 2 October – 84 54,685 8 Don Lu, 31 December Huangpu District, 2012 Shanghai

Survivor – Dadang Christanto Gosford Regional 1 April – 50 22,330 1 Gallery 20 May 2012

Lismore Regional 21 August – 43 3,400 Gallery 25 August 2012

The Glasshouse, 20 October – 4,326 Port Macquarie 2 December 44 2012

Members’ Exhibition 4A Centre for 23 November – 7 945 n/a Contemporary 8 December Asian Art 2012

Total visitation 113,260

2012 4A DIRECTOR’S REPORT 4 ARTISTS PRESENTED

In 2012, 4A presented work by 43 artists across its exhibition, public programs, community and special projects programs.

Name Nationality (State) Program outcome(s)

ALBERT, Tony Australia (QLD) Existing work Exhibition (x1)

ANDREW, Brook Australia (VIC) New work commissioned by 4A Exhibition (x3) Community engagement project Overseas presentation of work (China)

ARAHMAIANI Indonesia Existing work Exhibition (x1) Community engagement project

BABABA INTERNATIONAL Australia (NSW) New work commissioned by 4A (x3 artists) Exhibition (x1) Overseas presentation of work (China) Residency program (China)

BELL, Richard Australia (QLD) New work commissioned by 4A Exhibition (x1) Community engagement Public programs

BRIDGEMAN, Eric Australia (NSW) Existing work Exhibition (x1)

CHANG, Arthur Gar-Lock Australia (NSW) Community engagement

CHRISTANTO, Dadang Australia (QLD) New work (live performance) Exhibition (x3) Touring program

DANG, Dacchi Australia (NSW) New work commissioned by 4A Exhibition (x1) Community engagement Public programs

FRENCH, Will Australia (NSW) Existing work Exhibition (x1)

GLADWELL, Shaun Australia (NSW) Existing work Exhibition (x1) Overseas presentation of work (China)

HARSONO, FX Indonesia New work commissioned by 4A Exhibition (x1) Community engagement Public programs

HE, Xiangyu China Existing work Exhibition (x1)

HOWE, Melissa Australia (NSW) Existing work Exhibition (x1) ISMAIL, Roslisham ‘Ise’ Malaysia New work commissioned by 4A Exhibition (x1) Community engagement Public programs

KIHARA, Shigeyuki New Zealand/Samoa New work commissioned by 4A Exhibition (x1) Community engagement Public programs

LEE, Jaehoon New Zealand New work commissioned by 4A Artist editions (x1)

LEE, Michael Singaore Existing work Exhibition (x1)

LEONG, Owen Australia (NSW) New work commissioned by 4A Artist editions (x1)

NGUYEN-HATSUSHIBA, Jun Vietnam New work commissioned by 4A Exhibition (x1) Community engagement Public programs

NGUYEN LONG, Mai Australia (NSW) New work commissioned by 4A Exhibition (x1) Community engagement

ORMELLA, Raquel Australia (NSW) New work commissioned by 4A Exhibition (x1) Overseas presentation of work (China)

POK, Teik Kim Australia (NSW) Community engagement

SABSABI, Khaled Australia (NSW) New work commissioned by 4A Existing work Exhibition (x2) Community engagement Public programs Overseas presentation of work (China)

SEETON, Alexander Australia (NSW) Existing work Exhibition (x1)

SEMU, Greg Australia/New Zealand Existing work Exhibition (x1)

SHEN, Shaomin Australia/China New work commissioned by 4A Existing work Exhibition (x2) Overseas presentation of work (China) Residency program (China)

SILVER, Tim Australia (NSW) Existing work Exhibition (x1)

SRIVILASA, Vipoo Australia (VIC) Community engagement Public programs

SUWANNAKUDT, Phaptawan Australia (NSW) New work commissioned by 4A Exhibition (x1) Community engagement Public programs TANG, Cyrus Australia (NSW) Existing work Exhibition (x1)

TUFFERY, Michel New Zealand New work commissioned by 4A Exhibition (x2) Community engagement Public programs

TWIGG, Tony Australia (NSW) New work commissioned by 4A Exhibition (x1)

WING, Jason Australia (NSW) Existing work Exhibition (x1)

WONG, Ming Singapore New work commissioned by 4A Artist editions (x1)

QIU, Zhijie China Mentor for curator workshops Public programs

YONETANI, Ken & Julia Australia (NSW) New work commissioned by 4A (x2 artists) Existing work Exhibition (x1) Public programs Sponsorship event

YOUNG-HAE CHANG Korea New work commissioned by 4A HEAVY INDUSTRIES Exhibition (x1) (x2 artists) Community engagement Public programs

YOO, Soo Joo Australia (NSW) Existing work Exhibition (x1)

EXHIBITIONS

Edge of Elsewhere Brook Andrew, Arahmaiani, Richard Bell, Dacchi Dang, Newell Harry, FX Harsono, Shigeyuki Kihara, Jun Nguyen-Hatsushiba, Lisa Reihana, Khaled Sabsabi, Phaptawan Suwannakudt, Michel Tuffery and YOUNG-HAE CHANG HEAVY INDUSTRIES. 4 January - 3 March 2012

Edge of Elsewhere was a major three-year project by 4A and Campbelltown Arts Centre. The final installment of the project opened on January 14 as part of Sydney Festivals Program. Leading international and Australian Artists where commissioned by 4A and Campbelltown arts centre to produce new work in partnership with Sydney communities. The 13 artists selected for this exhibition spent the past three years developing and producing significant projects that challenged notions of contemporary community-engage practice. Edge of Elsewhere was curated by Thomas Berghuis, Aaron Seeto and Lisa Havilah, was presented across two venues; 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art and Campbelltown Arts Centre.

He Xiangyu Cola Project 16 March - 5 May 2012 Cola Project was Chinese artist He Xiangyu’s first solo exhibition in Australia that investigates material transformation, the products of global capitalism and the impact that its images are having upon human culture.

In 2008, He Xiangyu worked with Chinese factory workers to boil up thousands of litres of cola drink over a period of a year. The ubiquitous material was slowly transformed into a syrupy black sludge and finally into lumps of gleaming coal- like crystals. These crystals were later ground down and turned into ink, which the artist then used to create Song dynasty style ink paintings, in the age-old manner of artists reproducing the landscape and sentiment of master paintings.

He Xiangyu is a young artist whose work is representative of a kind of minimalism imbued with a strong conceptual foundation based upon Chinese cultural thinking. Although simple in form and material, Cola Project is weighed with both modern and ancient history. The artist makes references to contemporary Chinese artists who have worked with the colonising impact of global advertising and also the foundational cultural history of Song Dynasty FX Harsono Writing In the Rain, 2011 Commissioned by 4A. Photography Susannah Wimberley painting. The project represents a conception of history and time that is very different from our Western perspective, and a young artist making sense of our YOUNG-HAE CHANG HEAVY INDUSTRIES. THE SLICKEST LITTLE KOREAN SCUMBAG DOWN UNDER, contemporary period within the context of a thousand years of cultural history. 2012 Commissioned by 4A. Photography Susannah Wimberley

He Xiangyu, Installation view of Cola Project, 2012 Commissioned by 4A. Photography Susannah Wimberley

He Xiangyu, Skeleton, 2010, Jade Courtesy of 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art and Pearl Lam Gallery, Shanghai. Commissioned by 4A. Photography Susannah Wimberley EXHIBITIONS

Variable Truth Tony Albert, Brook Andrew, Melissa Howe, Roslisham Ismail aka Ise, Michael Lee, Greg Semu, Alexander Seton, Tim Silver, Tony Twigg. May 24 - 14 July 2012

Variable Truth was a group exhibition held at 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art that examined aesthetic and conceptual trajectories in contemporary art. Based on close readings of art and social history, Variable Truth sought to offer alternative perspectives on internationalism in contemporary Australian art and society. The exhibition brought together a selection of Australian and international artists, each of whom examine the Asia-Pacific region as a means to expand their understandings of historical trajectories.

What The Birds Knew Ken + Julia Yonetani 3 August - 3 November 2012

What the Birds Knew refers to the alternative title for Akira Kurosawa’s 1955 post- war film Ikimono no kiroku I (生き物の記録, Live in Fear). Provoked by the ongoing nuclear tragedy in Fukushima, Japan and the history of Uranium mining in Australia, What the Birds Knew speaks of the artists’ concerns regarding the history of nuclear power and its detrimental impact on the environment.

Ken and Julia Yonetani integrate the history of Uranium mining in Australia. In 1970, a rich deposit of Uranium was discovered at Nabarlek in the Northern Territory. It was close to the Aboriginal site known as Gabo Djang (Green Ant Dreaming). The Kuwinjku people, on whose land the Uranium was found, had objected to the mining. According to Kunwinjku beliefs, misfortune follows disturbance of the site not only for the transgressors, but for all people. Despite this, Uranium mining began in 1978 and was subsequently sold to several countries including Japan.

Reflecting on the Kurosawa film, and other post-war Japanese works that deal with the threat of nuclear crisis, and the Aboriginal experience in the face of Uranium mining, the artists wonder about the uncanny similarity between stories and fiction as a record of the terror of the past, and their role as premonition of disaster in our present time.

Events: Greg Semu, The Assassination of Atai (2010) and The Head of John the Baptist III (2010) • 17 August- Artist Floor Talk with Ken and Julia Yonetani Photography: Susannah Wimberley • 18 October- Akira Kurosawa Film Screening Ken+Julia Yonetani, USA from Crystal Palace: The Great • 1 November- Eat Drink Give Fundraising Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nuclear Nations, 2012 Photography: Susannah Wimberley

Ken+Julia Yonetani, What the Birds Knew, 2012 Photography: Susannah Wimberley EXHIBITIONS

The Floating Eye: Sydney Pavillion At the 9th Shanghai Biennale Brook Andrew, Bababa International (Tom Melick, Ivan Ruhle, Stephen Russel, Giles Thackway), Shaun Gladwell, Raquel Ormella, Khaled Sabsabi, Shen Shaomin 3 Oct- 30 Dec 2012

Sydney is Australia’s oldest settler city and an important city in the Asia-Pacific region. Sydney’s geography between Asia and the West results in the constant overlaying of different historical and cultural contexts.

The Floating Eye presents an image of a city that is both beautiful and changing. The exhibition brings together six contemporary artists who each have strong connections with Sydney and who offer varied perspectives of the city’s transforming reality observed though its demographics, environment, history, politics, geography and society. New and existing works will be presented by artists Brook Andrew, Shaun Gladwell, Raquel Ormella, Khaled Sabsabi, Shen Shaomin and Bababa International.

The Floating Eye encourages an observation of a city’s shifting references and influences, how the overlay of time and history and our emotions and sensations of a place, give meaning and form to our shared spaces

Events: • Curators Walkthrough of the Exhibition space- Hosted by Exhibition Curator Aaron Seeto, Documented on film and subsequently made into a short video • Mandarin Tour of the Exhibition Space

Members Exhibition 23 November - 8 December 2012

Touring Survivor Dadang Christanto Gosford Regional Gallery 1 April-20 May 2012 Lismore Regional Gallery Brook Andrew, Time, 2012 Courtesy the artist, 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art and 7 July-25 August 2012 Tolarno Galleries, Melbourne. Photography Brook Andrew The Glasshouse Regional Gallery, Port Macquarie 20 October – 2 December 2012 Khaled Sabsabi, Syria, 2012 Courtesy the artist, 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art and Survivor by Dadang Christanto is a performance by contemporary Indonesian- Milani Gallery, Brisbane. Photography Brook Andrew Australian artist. Survivor continues Christiano’s interrogation of disaster and its human impact through a performance based on events in the Sidoarjo region of Bababa International, Flue, 2012 Courtesy the artist and 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art. East Java where hot volcanic mud has wiped out 11 nearby villages. Unrelenting, Photography Brook Andrew. EXHIBITIONS AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS the mud continues subsumed livelihoods, memories and futures.

In this touring performance and exhibition, volunteers will silently occupy the gallery space, covered in mud from the neck down and holding a photographic portrait. Over the course of three hours the participants will maintain a silent vigil, memorialising this catastrophe and its continuing consequences.

The performance was followed by a visual exhibition consisting of detritus from the performance, video and photographic documentation memorialising the catastrophe and its ongoing consequences. As a key part of Christanto’s artistic practice, Survivor continues a line of enquiry that the artist developed in response to his father’s disappearance under the Suharto regime in the mid-1960s. This project was originally presented as an exhibition and performance at 4A in 2009 and was developed from a previous performance by the artist in Jakarta in 2008.

Education programs The Emerging Curators’ Intensive (ECI) is an initiative developed by 4A to encourage professional advancement amongst emerging curators with an interest in curatorial practice within the contemporary art context. 4A invited Expressions of Interest from curators at the beginning of their careers who would benefit from direct access to industry professionals to progress their curatorial vision. As part of the application process, respondents submitted an overview of their current curatorial research which will be the central focus for critical development throughout the program. The 1st phase will consist of an intensive program of site visits, curator-led studio visits, group industry discussions, and workshops. The 2nd phase of the program will take place in early December. Industry professionals will be invited back to participate in a closed forum where each emerging curator will present their research for critical feedback.

In its inaugural year, the program will be led by Qiu Zhijie – the Chief Curator of 9th Shanghai Biennale 2012, and an internationally renowned artist, curator and educator. Qiu is a professor at the School of Inter-media Art at the China Art Academy, the Director of Total Art Studio and member of the supervisory team at the Art and Social Thoughts Institute. As an active artist, Qiu’s artworks take a variety of forms such as calligraphy, painting, photography, video, installation and theatre and have been shown at a large number of art museums across the world.

Public lectures The Public Life of the Private Collection Art Month talk Saturday 17 March 2-4pm 2012 Dadang Christanto, Survivor (2009) Performance at 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art, Sydney. Produced by 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art in partnership with Art Month Courtesy of the artist and 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art, Sydney. Photography: Garry Trinh LECTURES AND COMMUNITY PROJECTS Do private collections have a public role? What motivates a collector to share their collection and how important is it for a collector to engage in a relationship with institutional bodies in ensuring that their collection plays a wider role in serving the cultural life of a city? How do they intersect with institutional agendas? How can they nurture, benefit or antagonise the artistic process? What role have private collections played in the formation of a contemporary Asian art discourse in Australia? Aaron Seeto leads this discussion of the development of contemporary Asian art in Australia, from the 1980s through to the present, including Daniel Droga, collector of contemporary Chinese Art and philanthropist Dr Dick Quan, collector and philanthropist Zhang Di, Director WHITE SPACE, Beijing Chair: Aaron Seeto, Director, 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art

Qiu Zhijie – Public Lecture 4A was proud to present a keynote lecture International-Inter cities-inter- individuals by Qiu Zhijie, one of China’s leading artists, critics, curators and educators on the 7 August at the Veolia Lecture Theatre at the MCA

Community Programs Vipoo Srivilasa - Thai-na-Town - Little Oz (14-17 June, 2012)

Thai-na-Town - Little Oz was presented in 2012 as part of the ongoing Chinatown Mapping Project. The project was led by Thai-born, Melbourne-based ceramic artist Vipoo Srivilasa and involved a series of workshops in and around Campbell Street, Haymarket. This area is fondly known by the Sydney Thai community as ‘Thai-na-Town’ as is the location of many Thai restaurants, businesses and other companies. The workshops involved the artist speaking with participants about their experience of migration, and what they miss about their home. Participants would choose an object or person that they missed, and make a small sculpture that they could post to their family or friends.

In total, over 80 members of the Thai and other expatriate communities participated in the workshops, which we held over four days, between 14 - 17 June, 2012.

Community support was essential to the success of the project. There were a significant number of individuals from local expat communities that supported the project by participating, and through word-of-mouth, encouraged others to join. The project highlighted the complexity of contemporary migration to and from Australia, as a multilateral experience. Through the skills of Srivilasa, the project was able to raise awareness and understanding of Thai culture in Australia, as well as develop 4A’s presence and connections amongst a number of local communities.

In December 2012, Srivilasa travelled to Thailand for the second iteration of the COMMUNITY PROJECTS project, where Australian expats were invited to participate in a similar fashion, discussing what they miss about their homes. Thai-na-town - Little Oz was promoted across a number of media platforms, both within the Thai community and also the greater community of Sydney. The project was also promoted through the participating venues - Thai restaurants. The project directly engaged 3 Thai restaurant in the local area as venues including, @Bangkok, Chon Siam and House Restaurant. House Restaurant is owned and operated by Sujet Saenkham, a significant figure in the local Thai community. The Consul-General of the Thai Trade Centre, Mr. Biravij Suwanpradhes and his wife, Mrs. Supinya Suwanpradhes were also supporters of the project and participated in the workshop.

Roslisham ‘Ise’ Ismail - Jalan Jalan Makan Angin Variable Truth (25 May - 14 July 2012)

Malaysian artist Roslisham ‘Ise’ Ismail was invited by 4A to travel to Sydney to develop a community project as part of the Chinatown Mapping Project. Since 2006, Ise has worked with groups of Malay migrants across South-East Asia, attempting to draw into focus the experience of migrant populations in their new countries. He also regularly collaborates with his ‘super friends’, an ever growing group of individuals across Asia that the artist meets and work with. This includes artists, fashion designers, architects, chefs and musicians.

After initial research in Sydney, Ise identified the individuals working at Paddy’s Fruit and Vegetable Markets as a ‘community’ that he wanted to work with. Paddy’s Market represents an economy that is largely concealed from the rest of Sydney, however bustling with energy and life for migrant populations. Upon arriving, Ise made contact with a married couple, Ahmei and Calvin, who both worked in the market. After chatting, sharing a meal and coffee the couple revealed to Ise their story of migrating from Malaysia, and experiences living in Sydney.

Despite living in Pyrmont, the couple had never ventured into the Sydney CBD, or to the cities major tourist attractions. They spoke of their dreams to visit Taronga Zoo, go surfing and enjoy a Harbour Cruise. Ise’s project, Jalan Jalan Makan Angin (Walking Around and Eating the Clouds) draws on these aspirations as the basis for a new way of seeing Sydney. With local assistance and knowledge, Ise assumed the role of local travel guide and invited the couple on a day-tour of Sydney, taking in popular sights including the Sydney Opera House, Taronga Zoo, Manly Beach and Centrepoint Tower.

The project provided a focussed engagement with two individuals within the migrant community, and offered them an alternative means for viewing and engaging with a city that had been, until then, unattainable or intimidating. Ise collaborated with these two participants as well as a group of ‘super friends’ to MEDIA

SUMMARY In 2012, 4A attracted a wide range of mainstream print, radio, TV and online, arts and ethnic media coverage particularly across major exhibitions, Edge of Elsewhere, Cola Project and What the Birds Knew. Individual media releases and campaigns were created for each of 4A’s projects in 2012.

Edge of Elsewhere, 14 January – 3 March 2012 As the major Sydney Festival visual arts event, Edge of Elsewhere 2012, now in its third year received considerable coverage from mainstream press:

-Coverage appeared over five major newspapers including The Daily Telegraph, The Australia, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Sun Herald and Sunday Telegraph -Coverage on SBS News TV and STVDIO arts channel -Local and ethnic radio stations including 2SER, Eastside Radio, Koori Radio, 2SER and SBS Thai Radio.

Cinema Alley, 3 February 2012 4A targeted a general mainstream audience in the fourth year of its popular street cinema, Cinema Alley held during The Chinese New Year Festival and once again contributed to a sell out event. Despite being rained out, pre-event coverage appeared in:

- One major newspaper, Sydney Morning Herald in 24 Hour Arts Diary - In local radio 2SER, ABC Local Radio - In local newspapers, Central Magazine, Sydney City News - Cinema Alley was featured on the landing page of popular online youth websites, Time Out Sydney, Concrete Playground, The Thousands, Daily Addict and also appeared in the print edition of Time Out Sydney as a critics choice of outdoor summer film events. -4A also partnered with The Thousands and was featured in two newsletters and ran a 4A’s banner ad for two weeks on their website.

The print and radio campaign was supplemented also by a social media campaign.

Cola Project by He Xiangyu, 16 March – 5 May 2012 For the 2012 emerging artist show slot in 4A’s program, we pitched emerging Beijing based, emerging artist He Xiangyu’s Cola Project at both mainstream press and local Chinese media. Coverage appeared in:

-Major newspapers The Australian, Sun Herald and Sydney Morning Herald -National radio on ABC Radio National -A journal review in arts periodical Art Asia Pacific -Chinese press including SBS Mandarin News TV and local press City Premier. Youth website, Young Chinese filmed a video interview in mandarin with the artist MEDIA

Also a double page review featured Cola Project in the weekend edition of the Australia Chinese Daily, the largest Chinese Newspaper in Australia. Distribution of this publication is between 17,000 to 20,000 per day.

Variable Truth, 25 May – 14 July 2012 For Variable Truth 4A received coverage in: -Local radio including Eastside Radio and FBI Radio -A double page review in the weekend edition of the Australia Chinese Daily A Tumblr blog was created jalanjalanmakanangin.tumblr.com which accompanied Roslisham Ismail aka Ise’s project Jalan Jalan, Makan Angin.

What the Birds Knew by Ken + Julia Yonetani, 3 August – 3 November 2012 What the Birds Knew was extended to run over three months and during its last month, the exhibition also coincided with another solo exhibition of the Yonetani’s work at Artereal Gallery, Rozelle.

Our PR campaign for What the Birds Knew was targeted towards mainstream press as well as online, arts, culture and design blogs. Coverage included:

-Feature articles on the Yonetanis appeared in three major newspapers The Australian, Daily Telegraph and The Sydney Morning Herald in three separate stories and an online image gallery on the SMH website. -Both of the Yonetani exhibitions were featured on an ABC News segment -Radio interviews on ABC Radio National, FBI Radio, 2SER -Featured in youth online media including Concrete Playground, The Thousands and featured interview on Time Out Sydney which was later included in a printed issue. -Featured posts on popular arts, science and culture blogs including The Arts Newspaper, The Art Life, Design Boom, Boing Boing and My Modern Met. These are highly popular blogs -A review in Art & Australia -A double page review in the weekend edition of the Australia Chinese Daily. 4A also worked with Das Platforms to produce an artist video featuring Ken and Julia Yonetani. Available online at www.4a.com.au/video-watch-ken-julia- yonetani-talk-about-what-the-birds-knew/

Sydney Pavilion, Shanghai Biennale, 1 October – 31 December 2012 4A created three bilingual media releases announcing our participation and artist for the Sydney Pavilion at the Shanghai Biennale 2013. The PR campaign was targeted towards mainstream press, arts media and Chinese media in Sydney. As this offsite project coincided with the local Yonetani exhibition and was one of 30 city pavilions taking part in a very large and the most ambitious Shanghai Biennale, media space in both Australia and China was quite competitive. Despite this Sydney Pavilion was covered in: MEDIA

-Sydney Morning Herald ran an online article and photo -Arts publications, Art Monthly, Asian Art Newspaper and Broadsheet (forthcoming) have reviewed the exhibition -Popular arts website Artinfo named the Sydney Pavilion in the Top 5 of all city pavilions. Prior to the launch of the Pavilion, 4A set a Sydney Pavilion: The Floating Eye blog, sydneypavilion.wordpress.com which contained biographic information on artists, interviews with participating artists and photo documentation throughout the entire three months of the Sydney Pavilion.

In addition 4A also worked with Das Platforms to produce a Sydney Pavilion video featuring interviews with participating artists, Khaled Sabsabi and Raquella Ormella and curator, Aaron Seeto. Available online at: www.4a.com.au/video- interviews-with-artists-and-curator-of-the-sydney-pavilion/

Thainatown – Little Oz by Vipoo Srivilasa, 14-17 June 2012 Thainatown- Little Oz media campaign was targeted at the CBD Thai Community. This project utilised media to recruit participants to be part of four workshops with Vipoo Srivilasa. 4A placed an advertisement in community publication “Thaipress”. Highlights of media included: -Local press articles in Australian publications: Sydney City Weekly and Central Magazine -Thai media included Thailand’s Bangkok Post and The Nation as well as local SBS Thai Radio

4A Emerging Curators’ Intensive Workshops A marketing campaign was utilised as the effective way to promote the call out for 4A’s Inaugural Emerging Curators intensive Program. The approach was more targeted towards relevant influencers and individuals nationally in the visual arts community and among university arts administration university courses nationally. We also encouraged arts organisations nationally including ARIs to promote the opportunity in their newsletter. MARKETING

WEBSITE 2012 was the first year that 4A began to utilise its new website. In 2012, traffic MARKETING REPORT on the website averaged 6,280 views per month with an average of 2,571 visits

per month by an average of 1,810 unique visitors per month. WEBSITE

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Unique Avg. Visit New Period Visits Vistors Page Views Pages/Visit Duration Visitors (%)

January 2,291 1,667 4,859 2.12 1:56 64.30

February 2,434 1,830 5,485 2.25 2:18 63.27

March 2,086 1,490 5,516 2.64 2:39 60.69

April 2,543 1,779 6,988 2.75 2:44 60.28

May 3,107 2,128 7,646 2.46 2:09 59.19

June 1,977 1,325 5,766 2.92 2:49 53.77

July 2,023 1,452 5,047 2.49 2:29 59.37

August 3,990 2,784 9,595 2.40 2:13 59.67

September 2,981 1,867 7,344 2.46 2:31 52.26

October 3,585 2,499 8,365 2.33 2:21 59.94

November 2,287 1,643 5,373 2.35 2:01 59.16

December 1,558 1,260 3,468 2.23 1:46 70.73

TOTAL 30,862 21,724 75,472 2.45 av. 2:13 av. 60.22 av.

The top 5 traffic sources came from Google, Facebook and Douban.

TheIt istop interesting 5 traffic to notesources that during came the from Shanghai Google, Biennale Facebook Sydney Pavilion:and Douban. The Floating Eye project, 4A received twice as much traffic from Chinese social media site Douban as from its equivalent Facebook.

It is interesting to note that during the Shanghai Biennale Sydney Pavilion: The BLOGS Floating Eye project, 4A received twice as much traffic from Chinese social media 4A also maintained two project blogs in 2012: site Douban as from its equivalent Facebook. Edge of Elsewhere http://edgeofelsewhere.wordpress.com/

Sydney Pavilion: The Floating Eye BLOGShttp://sydneypavilion.wordpress.com/

4A2012 also 4A maintained DIRECTOR’S REPORT two project blogs in 2012: 8

Edge of Elsewhere http://edgeofelsewhere.wordpress.com/

Sydney Pavilion: The Floating Eye http://sydneypavilion.wordpress.com/

MARKETING SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS We used Facebook, Twitter and Instagram throughout all our campaigns in 2012 posting images of the exhibition in the lead up and post event to generate word of mouth.

4A FACEBOOK Statistics: 1 January – 31 December 2012 Total Followers (Likes) 709 New Followers (Likes) 2,172 Posts 279 Impressions 17,7237 Likes 1,284 Shares 106 Comments 102

Since 2009, 4A has used Facebook as a tool to build an online community, to drive awareness and generate word of mouth about our organisation’s activities. In 2012 we gained 709 news followers (likes) on our 4A Facebook’s page bringing the total number of followers to 2172 (likes). The particular projects for which we use Facebook most effectively was He Xiangyu’s Cola Project exhibition, Cinema Alley and Ken and Julia Yonetani’s What the Birds Knew campaigns. The strategy for Cola Project and What the Birds Knew utilised Facebook’s viral function by encouraging our followers to share imagery from the campaign. We also posted selected works and video footage to create a buzz about exhibition openings and related public programs. In 2012 we also set up a separate Facebook Community page www.facebook. com/AustThai for Thainatown Little Oz which was moderated by Vipoo Srivilasa, artist on the project and 4A’s staff. On this page we shared documentation photos during the workshop. In just over 6 months we generated 156 likes gathered from two workshops across Australia and Thailand.

4A TWITTER Statistics: 1 January – 31 December 2012 Total Followers 1,761 New followers 319 Total Lifetime Tweets 1,765 New Tweets 701 Potential Impressions 1,248,060 Retweets 274 Mentions 243 Favourites 30 New Likes 709

In 2012 4A gained 319 new followers to add to a total following of 1761. 4A created a hashtag during Cinema Alley, #cinemaalley and encouraged its use 4A Social Media Report

In the week lead up to the event, 4A successfully used social media to create a hype about Cinema Alley and started a campaign to spread the word about the event via our social networks and word of mouth across Sydney to Facebook 1500 follows and Twitter 1200 followers. 4A also created a hashtag #cinemaalley and encourage use of4A this Social amongst Media supporters. Report The Twitter campaign was successful in reaching new audiences with notable tweets about Cinema Alley from credible sources within the SydneyIn the week arts community.lead up to the event, 4A successfully used social media to create a hype about Cinema Alley and started a campaign to spread the word about the event via Notableour social tweets networks are highlighted and word ofbelow: mouth across Sydney to Facebook 1500 follows and Twitter 1200 followers. 4A also created a hashtag #cinemaalley and encourage use Dominicof this amongst Knight supporters. The Twitter campaign was successful in reaching new @domknightaudiences with notable tweets about Cinema Alley from credible sources within the RadioSydney Presenter, arts community. ABC Local Radio (online) Followers: 13,643 Notable tweets are highlighted below:

Dominic Knight @domknight Radio Presenter, ABC Local Radio (online) Followers: 13,643

MARKETING SOCIAL MEDIA amongst supporters. The Twitter campaign was successful in reaching new

audiences with notable tweets in support of the event from credible sources within

SydneyABC Pool arts community reaching a potential audience of 23,294. Here are a @ABCPool selectionFollowers: of 2,524 tweets about Cinema Alley:

ABC Pool @ABCPool Followers: 2,524

Mathieu Ravier Art@mattriviera Month Sydney @artmonthsydneyFilm journalist, blogger, founder and director of The Festivalists

Followers:Followers: 3,782 2,859

Art Month Sydney @artmonthsydneyMathieu Ravier Followers:@mattriviera 3,782 Film journalist, blogger, founder and director of The Festivalists Followers: 2,859

Australian Art Collector @AusArtCollector

Followers: 486

Australian Art Collector @AusArtCollector Followers: 486

eDMs Number of eDM campaign emails sent 30 Subscribers 2,866 Average open rate 35%

4A sent out 30 eDM campaign emails in 2012. We sent out monthly newsletters on the first Thursday of every month. We did not collect the data for the number of new subscribers to our mailing list in 2012 as we worked on centralising our mailchimp and gallery database into a single database which would have skewered results.

FOCUS GROUPS In 2012, 4A worked with a consultant who led a number of marketing focus groups to probe further information from our audiences across a range of demographics. 4A was involved in the recruitment process of both members and non-members and sent a call out via eDM and our social networks. We received interest from 43 individuals and held group session with 8 participants between the ages of 18-45. These were held over four sessions, each two-hours long. We identified three target groups whom we wished to poll – young professionals, students and arts professionals, both Members and Non-Members.

CURRENT BOARD AND COMMITTEES

-4A BOARD

Caroline Choy – President Caroline Choy is a Property Business Development Manager for AMP Capital Shopping Centres. She has a keen interest in the arts and has worked previously on projects for the Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Powerhouse Museum, Sydney and South Australian Museum, Adelaide.

John Choi – Vice President John Choi is a founding partner of Choi Ropiha Fighera. In 1996, Choi graduated from the University of Sydney with Honours in Architecture. Together with Tai Ropiha, he founded Choi Ropiha in 2000 following their win in the international competition for the re-design of the TKTS booth in Times Square, New York.

Adrian Williams – Treasurer Adrian Williams has 20 years’ experience in finance and accounting within large Australian and global organisations. He is currently Head of Finance for AMP Capital Shopping Centres. Throughout his career, Adrian has led large finance teams through periods of significant cultural, system and organisational change. Emphases on continuous improvement and awareness of trends in the external market place have also been cornerstones of his approach.

Lisa Corsi – Public Officer Lisa Corsi is founder and Managing Director of ARTCELL, an independent agency that provides project and collection management services for the visual arts industry, including public and private institutions, private collectors, commercial galleries and artists. She has worked with international intergovernmental organisations and with local, national and international Artist Run Initiatives, galleries and museums. She is also co-founder and co-curator for SafARI, a community based and alternative exhibition of unrepresented and emerging artists in Artist Run Initiatives in Sydney. From 2000 – 2006, Lisa was Curatorial and Collections Manager at Sherman Galleries, Sydney.

Sharon Chen ( 陈壬 ) Sharon Chen is the Director of Artzone and is currently Chief Art Editor of Oriental BQ weekly and Art columnist of Austar Interna¬tional Media Group. She was born in China and moved to Australia in 1999. She has 10 years of experience working in advertising, and over the last four years has dedicated herself to the arts, specifically working with the Australian-Chinese community to raise awareness of art and culture through education. Her pas¬sion is to connect leading Chinese and Australian artists with the Chinese and Australian business community, creating networks and connections between China, Australia and the rest of Asia. She sits on a number of non-profit boards and is Executive Chair of Australia China Culture Council; Vice-president of Australia Art Collectors Association; Vice-president of Western Australia Oriental Culture & Art Association and the Director of Artzone.

Hannah Skrzynski Hannah Skrzynski is the Founder of Creative Asia, an arts management consultancy focused on building cross-cultural collaborations between Australia and China. She has extensive experience working in the Australia China cultural field. She is a Mandarin speaker.

John Young John Young was born in Hong Kong in 1956 and moved to Australia in 1967. Since his first exhibition in 1979, John has exhibited extensively with his works being shown in major exhibitions both nationally and internationally, at institutions including the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York and museums and institutions in North America, Europe, North and South East Asia.

4A ADVISORY COMMITTEES

Visual Arts Advisory Group Dr Thomas Berghuis, Gary Carsley, Simryn Gill, George Poonkhin Khut

Ambassadors Kate Mizrahi CURRENT BOARD AND COMMITTEES

- Fundraising Committee Brooke Aitken, Lyndell Droga, Phillip Haw, Mike Hsu, Mark Hughes, Belinda Lai, Louisa Lee-Reizes, Monica Levy, Paris Neilson, Beata Orzel, Martin O’Sullivan

4A STAFF

Director: Aaron Seeto

Program Manager: Summar Hipworth (until October) Pedro de Almeida Community Project Officer & Assistant Curator: Toby Chapman

Program Coordinator: Smmuel Zammit

Media & Communications Coordinator: Yu Ye Wu

Interns: Joanna Bayndrian Lorraine Chung Bethan Donnelly Paloma Gould Bethan Donnelly Mingyue Zhou 4A PATRONS, BENEFACTORS, FRIENDS

Current as at 31 December 2012. 4A is an initiative of the Asian Australian Artists Association Inc. We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the Commonwealth Government through the Australia Council, its funding and advisory body; the NSW Government through Arts NSW and the City of Sydney.

Champions Kerr and Judith Neilson

Principal Patrons Geoff and Vicki Ainsworth Daniel and Lyndell Droga

Patrons Grasshopper Bar Johnson Pilton Walker John Lam-Po-Tang Dr Gene Sherman AM and Brian Sherman AM VisAsia Adrian Williams

Benefactors AMP Foundation Andrew Cameron ARNDT Fine Art ARTCELL Richard Funston and Kiong Lee Simon Mordant AO and Catriona Mordant Vicky Olsson Lisa Paulsen Dr Dick Quan Andrew Rothery and Julia Champtaloup The Sky Foundation Lucy Hughes Turnbull AO

Friends Brooke and Steve Aitken Australia China Art Foundation Luisa Catanzaro Ari and Lisa Droga Choi Ropiha Fighera Julian and Stephanie Grose Tonee Holley Knowles and James Knowles Annette Larkin Akira and Tomoko Nakayama Susan Nathan Becky Sparks and James Roland Victoria Taylor Anna Waldmann Dr John Yu AC.

4A PROJECT SUPPORTERS

Exhibition Sponsors Grasshopper Kirin Barisol Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation

Media Partners The Thousands

Special Exhibition Partners Sydney Pavilion – Shanghai Biennale Presented by 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art Shanghai Biennale

Major Partner Re

Presenting Partners Asialink Australia China Culture Council

Government Partners City of Sydney NSW Government, Trade & Investment, Arts NSW

Principal Sponsor Australian Duerrenmatt-folk Winery VisAsia The Keir Foundation Copyright Agency Cultural Fund

Sponsors Zenger Sunny International Australian Art Collectors Association China Eastern Das Platforms Emerging and Contemporary Art Milani Gallery Julia Champtaloup and Andrew Rothery