''ArtAsiaPacific'' is the longest running English-language periodical solely dedicated to covering
contemporary art
Contemporary art is a term used to describe the art of today, generally referring to art produced from the 1970s onwards. Contemporary artists work in a globally influenced, culturally diverse, and technologically advancing world. Their art is a ...
and
culture
Culture ( ) is a concept that encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and Social norm, norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, Social norm, customs, capabilities, Attitude (psychology), attitudes ...
from sixty-seven countries, territories, and
Chinese Special Administrative Regions that it considers to be within Asia, the Pacific, and the Middle East. It is published six times a year and is distributed internationally. A regular issue includes feature-length articles on artists, themes or events; essays; profiles on artists or collectors; reviews of biennials, exhibitions, art publications and films; news including obituaries and appointments; auction and art fair reports; and previews of shows.
''ArtAsiaPacific'' produces an annual
almanac
An almanac (also spelled almanack and almanach) is a regularly published listing of a set of current information about one or multiple subjects. It includes information like weather forecasting, weather forecasts, farmers' sowing, planting dates ...
edition, published in January, which surveys the past year in the 67 countries and territories covered in the magazine. In addition to news, exhibition, festival and country reports, the almanac includes reports on five outstanding artists from the previous year and one promising artist for the next year, and essays written by prominent curators and cultural figures.
History
The magazine first launched as ''Art and Asia Pacific'' in March 1993 in Australia. Published quarterly, it began more as an academic journal than a standard consumer magazine and each issue would focus on a different country or theme. While the first issue was published by Janet Gough, it was then published and edited by Dynah Dysart/Fine Art Press Pty Limited,
Sydney
Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...
, until October 2003. There are two inaugural issues both bearing Volume 1 No 1. The first issue (52 pages) was dated March 1993, while the second issue (100 pages)also bearing Vol 1 No 1 and mention of it being the inaugural volume was issued in December 1993. It was then purchased by Gang Zhao and Wendy Siegelman and moved to New York.
In the fall of 2004, Elaine W. Ng took over as editor-in-chief, and eventually purchased and co-published the magazine along with author
Simon Winchester
Simon Winchester (born 28 September 1944) is a British-American author and journalist. In his career at ''The Guardian'' newspaper, Winchester covered numerous significant events, including Bloody Sunday (1972), Bloody Sunday and the Watergate S ...
in March 2005, effectively re-launching it under the slogan "Today's Art From Tomorrow's World." This marked a dramatic movement in the magazine's design and focus; the editorial content became more journalistic and reader-friendly. In 2006, the first almanac edition of the magazine was released with the goal of covering the past year in Asian art and culture along with profiles and informational listings of each of the 67 countries covered by the magazine.
As of January 2007, Elaine W. Ng is the sole publisher and editor-in-chief of the magazine. Formerly, produced in an office in the gallery district of
Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood, the magazine moved production to
Hong Kong
Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the wor ...
in 2011.
List of notable contributors
A number of important figures within the contemporary art world have contributed to ''ArtAsiaPacific'', including:
*
Takashi Murakami
is a Japanese contemporary artist. He works in fine arts (such as painting and sculpture) as well as commercial media (such as fashion, merchandise, and animation) and is known for blurring the line between High art, high and low arts. His wo ...
*
Alexandra Munroe
*
Uli Sigg
*
Ai Weiwei
Ai Weiwei ( ; , IPA: ; born 28 August 1957) is a Chinese contemporary artist, documentarian, and activist. Ai grew up in the far northwest of China, where he lived under harsh conditions due to his father's exile. As an activist, he has been ...
*
Hou Hanru
*
Rirkrit Tiravanija
*
Cai Guo-Qiang
*
Christopher Doyle
*
Ranjit Hoskote
Ranjit Hoskote (born 1969) is an Indian poet, art critic, cultural theorist and independent curator. He has been honoured by the Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, with the Sahitya Akademi Golden Jubilee Award and the Sah ...
*
Jack Persekian
*
Arto Lindsay
Arthur Morgan "Arto" Lindsay (born May 28, 1953) is an American guitarist, singer, record producer and experimental composer. He was a member of the pioneering 1970s no wave group DNA, which featured on the 1978 compilation '' No New York''. In ...
*
Baiju Parthan
*
Michael Shaowanasai
*
Nancy Adajania
*
Amanda McDonald Crowley
*
Rhana Devenport
*
Lee Yongwoo
*
Ahmed Mater
Notable cover appearances
Each issue of ''ArtAsiaPacific'' features work by a different artist, designer, or architect. Many of these featured artists have had their work appear on an ''ArtAsiaPacific'' cover long before they achieved wider international recognition, including:
*
Zhang Xiaogang – Chinese painter, creator of renowned "Bloodlines" series (Vol. 3 No. 1, 1996)
*
Atul Dodiya – Indian painter (No. 33)
*
Ai Weiwei
Ai Weiwei ( ; , IPA: ; born 28 August 1957) is a Chinese contemporary artist, documentarian, and activist. Ai grew up in the far northwest of China, where he lived under harsh conditions due to his father's exile. As an activist, he has been ...
– Chinese sculptor, performance artist, curator and architect; co-designer of the
Beijing National Stadium
The National Stadium (), the Bird's Nest (), is a stadium at Olympic Green in Chaoyang, Beijing, Chaoyang, Beijing, China. The National Stadium, covering an area of 204,000 square meters with an 80,000 person capacity (91,000 with temporary ...
(No. 40, Spring 2004)
References
External links
* {{official website, http://www.aapmag.com
1993 establishments in Australia
Monthly magazines published in Australia
Asian art
Contemporary art magazines
Magazines established in 1993
Middle Eastern art
Oceanian art
Quarterly magazines published in Australia
Arts magazines published in Australia