Rising Voices has been carefully curated to celebrate the great depth and dynamism of contemporary art from the Asia Pacific region, signalling influential moments and featuring pioneering artists across its immense range of artistic contexts. Through rich material practices and diverse approaches to art-making, the exhibition will draw focus to how histories, belief systems and social conditions are expressed by artists of the region today, while revealing how cultural knowledge is carried and nurtured through communities and across generations.
The exhibition draws on the Triennial’s legacy, arranged across an introduction and three thematic sections:
Re-Visioning History demonstrates how artists respond to political conditions, from histories of migration to domestic conflicts and social upheaval. On display is a reimagined map of Sri Lanka’s historic military camp, as well as photography which captures intimate portraits and stylised scenes of life, both real and imagined.
Enduring Knowledge explores artistic heritage and ways of making with local materials. This section will feature works informed by long-standing traditions and ceremonial customs, including necklaces crafted from iridescent maireener and abalone shells, a selection of vibrant works on paper and a series of porcelain busts.
The exhibition concludes with Evolving Faith, which considers how spirituality and systems of faith are expressed in contemporary practices. A monumental sculpture inspired by the temple grounds of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai features in this section, whilst closing the exhibition is a three-metre-long suspended sculpture.
