Korea: KIAF 2011
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September
Alasdair Foster presented a lecture on contemporary Australian photomedia as part of the Academic Program for the Korea International Art Fair (KIAF: 22-26 September). Given this was the bilateral ‘Year of Friendship’ that marked 50 years of diplomatic relations between our two nations, the 2011 edition featured Australia as the guest country of honour. 17 Australian galleries were represented in the main fair, which sprawled through the vast halls of COEX (the conference and exhibition centre) in downtown Seoul.
With the title of ‘Virtually Conversant’, Alasdair Foster’s illustrated lecture took as its starting point the scale and relative isolation of Australia and the status of Korea as the world’s most wired nation. He spoke not only about the ways in which collectors could learn more about Australian photomedia artists via the internet, but about the unexpected benefits of isolation in the development of mature and individuated creative practice in Australia.
Three other eminent Australians also delivered papers in the day-long session: John McDonald (art critic for the Sydney Morning Herald), Glenn Barkley (curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney) and Lesley Always, Arts Director at Asialink, Melbourne). The four lectures formed a key component of the Academic Program, which is designed to add depth and analysis to the riotous array of artworks jostling for attention on the floors below.
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Images (from the top):
The four Australian speakers in the KIAF 2011 Academic Program (from the left): Alasdair Foster (CDC), Glenn Barkley (Curator, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney), Lesley Alway (Arts Director, Asialink, Melbourne), John McDonald (art critic for the Sydney Morning Herald) [photo: © Benedict Foster]
Alasdair Foster speaking about contemporary Australian photomedia at KIAF 2011 [photo: © Benedict Foster]
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Cultural Development Consulting 