Conversations: Art Gallery of New South Wales

Asian art of the past and present has a proud place in the Art Gallery of New South Wales collection. In a major refresh of our Asian galleries, this exhibition brings old and new together in a series of dynamic conversations.

Leading off those conversations are 24 renowned contemporary artists, among them Anish Kapoor, Ai Weiwei, Suda Yoshihiro, Shahzia Sikander and Ah Xian. Far from seeing the art of the past as something remote or untouchable, these artists treat it as a deep resource and constant spur to the imagination. Conversations through the Asian collections is a unique chance to see their contemporary works beside the historical art that informs and inspires them. It is also a chance to look afresh – through artists’ eyes – at the riches of the historical collection, from ancient Chinese jade carvings and Indian miniatures to elegant Japanese screens.

Join the Head curator on International art Justin Paton as he leads you through some of the conversations featured in the exhibition. His tour can be listened to as audio, watched in Auslan and read as text.

Fresh conversations will be added to the exhibition throughout its run.

Produced by the Art Gallery of NSW, developed by Art Processors.