Asia TOPA: Asia-Pacific Triennial of Performing Arts has announced a quarterly event series Asia TOPA Radar – which will bring together artists and audiences to uncover new art and culture from the Asia Pacific region. The series will start at the University of Melbourne on Thursday 30 November 2023.
Featuring diverse Asia Pacific artists, thinkers, DJs and musicians, Asia TOPA Radar invites artists to share what is inspiring them in a series of informal presentations and performances, before the events turn into a party with tunes by some of our best and brightest.
This inaugural edition of Asia TOPA Radar features three exciting artist collectives who have all captivated audiences and communities around the world:
The Pacific Sisters (Auckland, New Zealand) are a pioneering collective of women, soles and fa’afafine artists, designers, storytellers, performers, musicians, educators and mentors. With a unique fusion of cultural practice and contemporary art, the collective’s work has presented in biennales, galleries, nightclubs, museums and public spaces.
Luke George (Naarm/Melbourne, Australia) and Daniel Kok (Singapore) have been making extraordinary performances together for nearly a decade, spanning choreography, social engagement, installation and rope practice. Their recent works have premiered at the RISING Festival (Melbourne), Venice Biennale (Italy) and Singapore International Festival of the Arts.
Thukral & Tagra (Delhi, India) create playful, generous and inclusive works, employing a wondrous array of media – including painting, gaming, archiving, publishing, design and participation – to create new forms of public engagement and expand the threshold of what art can do.
“We’re thrilled to be launching the first edition of Asia TOPA Radar this November,” said Creative Director Asia TOPA Jeff Khan. “Radar is specially curated by myself and the Asia TOPA team to be a fun, insightful and inspiring evening where we introduce you to some of the most celebrated and dynamic artists from across the Asia Pacific.”
“I couldn’t be more proud to be launching the inaugural Radar event with presentations by three of the most brilliant and inventive artist collectives from the region.”
“The Pacific Sisters, Luke George & Daniel Kok, and Thukral & Tagra have long inspired us with their unique, inclusive and surprising approaches to art and performance making – come and hear more about what they do and what makes them tick, creatively,” said Khan.
Asia TOPA Radar will feature some of the eight leading artists from across the Asia Pacific who are participating in an Asia TOPA festival creative development, which involves research, experimentation and creation.
The creative development will also provide an opportunity for the artists to familiarise themselves with the context for the third iteration of Asia TOPA which will be held from February-March 2025.
Asia TOPA Radar
Market Hall, Building 189, University of Melbourne, 761 Swanston St, Parkville
Performance: Thursday 30 November 2023 – 6:00pm
Information and Bookings: www.artscentremelbourne.com.au
Image: Daniel Kok and Luke George, Hundreds + Thousands – CROSS Festival, Italy (2023)