Opening Celebrations: Archetypes: 30 Years of 4A

Join us on Friday 10 July from 6:30pm for the opening of 'Archetypes: 30 Years of 4A', a landmark exhibition bringing together artists across generations to reflect on three decades of Asian Australian contemporary art.

For thirty years, 4A has grown into one of Australia’s most important platforms for contemporary art and diasporic storytelling, championing artists, communities and cultural exchange across Australia and the Asia-Pacific.

'Archetypes is both a celebration and a reckoning.' said Thea Baumann, CEO of 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art. 'Thirty years ago, 4A was established because Asian Australian artists were too often excluded from the stories Australia’s cultural institutions were telling about themselves. While much has changed, the questions that shaped our founding remain urgent: who is visible, whose histories are remembered, and who gets to imagine the future?'

Bringing together artists across generations, 'Archetypes' honours the artists, curators, communities and cultural workers who have shaped 4A over the past three decades, while looking ahead to the future of Asian Australian contemporary art.

Guest curated by Amelia Winata, Editor of Memo Review and Curator at ACMI, the exhibition features pioneering artists Maria Cruz, Dacchi Dang, Emil Goh (1966-2009), Jumaadi, Araya Rasdjarmrearnsook and Koji Ryui in dialogue with a new generation of artists: Samraing Chea, Spencer Lai, Yasmin Smith, Amy Stuart & MSAC Collective, Sarah Ujmaia and Yusi Zang.

We look forward to sharing this special milestone with you.

Image credit: Koji Ryui, Jamais Vu (detail), 2018. Installation view, 21st Biennale of Sydney: SUPERPOSITION: Equilibrium & Engagement. Courtesy of the artist.