NGV Announces $10 million support for new Asian Art Fund

The National Gallery of Victoria today announced major supporter donations of almost $10 million for its new Asian Art Acquisition Fund, to be formally launched at a major function at the NGV this evening.

The amount includes the biggest single cash gift the NGV has received, of $6 million. The donation, from NGV President of Trustees Allan Myers and his wife Maria, will provide a major impetus for new purchases for the NGV’s important Asian collection. The balance of almost $4 million includes donations from the Yugilbar Foundation, NGV Trustee and Chair of Supporters of Asian Art Jason Yeap, NGV Trustee and Chair of the NGV Foundation Bruce Parncutt, and two major bequests.

“We are delighted to be able to announce the inauguration of this major new acquisition fund with such generous and important donations”, said NGV’s Director Dr Gerard Vaughan. “We are indebted to our benefactors for this outstanding support, continuing the great tradition of Melbourne philanthropy.”
“Our new Asian Art Acquisition Fund has been set up to enable us to seek to purchase Asian works of high artistic significance. The new fund really demonstrates our commitment to strengthening and enriching our Asian collection, both historic and contemporary”.

Dr Vaughan said the first work to be purchased would be Horse Stable, an early 17th century Japanese work, previously exhibited in the NGV’s stunning 2007 exhibition, Golden Screens.

He said these new donations were the first to be announced leading up to the launch of the NGV’s major 150th anniversary fundraising campaign in May 2008, to conclude in the sesquicentenary year, 2011.

“In May we will formally open the NGV’s major campaign to secure $150 million for overall acquisitions by 2011. This initial $10 million is a significant first step in this direction”, he said.

In the past two years major strides have been made at the NGV in support of Asian Art. A number of important acquisitions have been made, the Asian gallery spaces have undergone extensive refurbishment, and Asian art has featured prominently in the Gallery’s exhibition program.

“Asian art is increasingly important to our public, and we will be focussing more resources in this area in future”, said Dr Vaughan. “It is the art of our region, and our acquisitions will embrace both historic and contemporary works of great significance.
The announcement of the Asian Art Acquisition Fund follows the establishment in 2007 of the NGV’s Supporters of Asian Art group, with the aim of strengthening and enriching the NGV’s outstanding permanent collection of Asian art. Individuals and organisations with a commitment to promoting and cultivating a greater understanding and appreciation of Asian art and culture came together to focus on securing major works of art through gifts and cash donations.

In recent years the NGV has acquired a number of important works by contemporary Asian artists such as Ah Xian (Chinese, born 1961, but was resident in Australia), Lee Bul (South Korean, born 1964), Yayoi Kusama (Japanese, born 1929) and Nusra Latif Qureshi (born Pakistan 1973). The work of contemporary artists from Asia remains a significant collecting focus.

Works by major Chinese photographers such as Huang Yan (born 1966) Sheng Qi (born 1964) and Zhang Huan (born 1965) have also recently been acquired for the forthcoming exhibition Body Language: Contemporary Chinese Photography, which opens 14 March 2008.

“Body Language presents us with a wonderful opportunity to showcase recent acquisitions,” said Dr Vaughan. “These works have never been displayed before and are sure to be hugely popular with visitors to the Gallery. We will follow this exhibition with focussed shows including Chinese video and other art.”

Another interesting exhibition to draw on the NGV’s Asian collection will be Moon In Reflection: The Art of Kim Hoa Tram which is scheduled to open on 11 April 2008. Curated by Dr Mae Anna Pang, Senior Curator, Asian Art, NGV, Moon in Reflection will be the first exhibition devoted entirely to the works of a single living artist who is represented in the Asian collection. Kim Hoa Tram was born in Saigon, Vietnam to a family originally from China, and now lives in Melbourne.

Dr Vaughan said a number of extremely important works from the 18th and 19th centuries had entered the Collection over the past year – the major highlight being an 18th century Korean Dragon Jar which was purchased with assistance from the Supporters of Asian Art.

Dr Vaughan said he believed the establishment of the new fund would provide great encouragement to supporters, and would be an important vehicle through which the NGV could continue to grow the Asian collection.
“A number of historic and contemporary Asian works have been gifted to us or promised over the past year. It’s been an exciting start to our new, long term campaign for the future.”

For further information:

Sue Coffey 0417 558 511 sue.coffey@ngv.vic.gov.au
Kitty Walker 0417 575 088 kitty.walker@ngv.vic.gov.au