The auditorium at ACIO Taipei at a recent function Rodney Pople, The Street, 1985, oil and mixed media on board
Artbank e-bulletin - February 2008
Welcome to Artbank’s first e-bulletin for 2008. This year will be another exciting year for Artbank and I am looking forward to bringing you news on acquisitions, artists, clients and exhibitions in the following months.
Our charter emphasises the importance of Artbank showcasing contemporary Australian art in official posts overseas. This month we are looking at one of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade posts in Taiwan, where Australia’s trade commissioner’s commitment to the arts has resulted in a dynamic display.
Geoffrey Cassidy, Director
Australian Commerce and Industry Office—Taipei
The partnership between Artbank and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has a long history of bringing the best of contemporary Australian art to all corners of the world. The Artbank collection is featured in numerous international DFAT missions and offices and is renewed at regular intervals to reflect the currency and energy of Australian contemporary art.
DFAT established a trade office in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, in 1981. Since then the Australian Commerce and Industry Office (ACIO) has grown and strengthened Taiwan’s economic ties with Australia, and the country is now Australia’s 10th largest trade partner and our 8th largest export market.
In its recent relocation, ACIO in Taipei upgraded its premises and facilities and used the move as an opportunity to renew its Artbank display. The office selected works from our collection of new acquisitions and significant earlier works.
The new ACIO premises in Taipei has an expanded reception area for visitors and an auditorium which can be used for functions and conferences. The marble walls presented a challenge for displaying artworks, however the eclectic works that have been selected, from paintings and photography to sculptures and ceramics, work well with the interior, creating a sense of occasion and welcome.
The artists represented in ACIO’s new display include; Rodney Pople, Ian Abdullah, Michelle Hanlin, Jenny Orchard, John Olsen and David Stephenson to name but a few. Detailed background on each artwork is displayed on wall labels, giving visitors a more rewarding viewing experience.
Peter Lin, Art Consultant
Artbank Touring Exhibition
Artbank’s national touring exhibition Artbank: Celebrating 25 Years of Australian Art has just finished its tour in Victoria and will be opening at the Geraldton Regional Art Gallery later in the month. Art lovers in South Australia and New South Wales will be able to view the show later in the year.
