Rising Voices: Contemporary art from Asia, Australia & the Pacific

Thu 5 Mar 2026

In a landmark collaboration between QAGOMA and the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), from May this year, ‘Rising Voices: Contemporary Art from Asia, Australia and the Pacific’ will showcase highlights from the QAGOMA Collection for global audiences in London.

Curating the exhibition

Featuring more than 70 artworks by 40 artists, ‘Rising Voices: Contemporary Art from Asia, Australia and the Pacific’ showcases works from across the region. In development since 2022, the major touring exhibition emerged from years of discussion between QAGOMA staff and Daniel Slater, Director of Exhibitions at the V&A — a regular visitor to the Gallery’s flagship exhibition series, the Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art. Drawing directly from the Gallery’s extensive Collection, the exhibition celebrates key artistic figures and art movements that have shaped cultural contexts in these ever-changing parts of the world.

With thousands of artworks acquired by the Gallery through the Asia Pacific Triennial since its inception in 1993, there was no shortage of audience favourites to choose from for ‘Rising Voices’. Refining our longlist, however, posed an important question: what defines QAGOMA and the Asia Pacific Triennial, especially when presented away from its home context and in the United Kingdom? The resulting exhibition reflects guiding principles that have underpinned the Triennial over three decades: that broad and diverse definitions of contemporary art are essential to considering artmaking in the Asia Pacific region; that enduring knowledge and belief systems continue to evolve and hold a valuable place in contemporary art; and that First Nations perspectives, ancestral knowledge and community-driven practices are a crucial part of understanding art and cultures in their own contexts. In this sense, the touring exhibition represents the rising of a multitude of voices, all interconnected, carried forward and amplified across a continuum of time.

Brenda V. Fajardo Mga Babae sa Panahon ng Espanyol (Women during the Spanish colonial period) 1993

Heri Dono Ada meriam di muka ku (There is a cannon on my face) 1994

Judy Watson memory bones 2007

Montien Boonma Lotus sound 1992

‘Rising Voices’ is drawn from works beginning in the 1990s — a pivotal time in the development of Asian and Pacific contemporary art, marked by artists’ responses to social and political movements of the late twentieth century and by considerations of the so-called ‘traditional’, modern and contemporary as part of truly global conversations. The exhibition includes influential artists whose works were featured in the very first Asia Pacific Triennial in 1993, such as Brenda Fajardo from the Philippines (illustrated), Heri Dono from Indonesia (illustrated), Judy Watson (Waanyi people) from Queensland (illustrated) and Montien Boonma from Thailand. Boonma’s celebrated installation Lotus sound 1992 (illustrated) — now considered one of the most important examples of contemporary art from South- East Asia — is travelling internationally for the first time.

Building on this foundation, the exhibition also highlights artists who innovate through techniques and materials with long histories to respond to contemporary conditions, signalling how cultural knowledge and belief systems continue to carry value in contemporary practices. Through media including performance objects, jewellery, textiles, weaving and miniature painting, these works also engage with the curatorial context of the V&A, internationally recognised for its focus on applied arts, decorative arts and design. Inextricably, ‘Rising Voices’ addresses histories of colonial contact and cultural encounters, and how artists offer re-writings of these narratives. The remarkable diversity of materials and scales reflects the great dynamism of the artmaking contexts around us. The mammoth effort to prepare and present such an exhibition also speaks to the QAGOMA team’s unique expertise in the field, with conservators, registrars, workshop staff, curators and other departments contributing to both the safe passage and cultural responsibility of taking this singular collection on a long international journey.

Tarun Nagesh is Curatorial Manager, Asian and Pacific Art, QAGOMA

Staging the tour

A touring exhibition on the scale of ‘Rising Voices’ involves meticulous planning. Each artwork demands a comprehensive touringexhibition risk assessment, along with detailed logistics, documentation, artist requirements and adherence to cultural protocols. A dedicated team of QAGOMA professionals — including an exhibition coordinator, a conservator, installation specialists and workshop technicians — has worked within a closed gallery space since January 2024 to ensure all arrangements are completed on schedule for the exhibition’s 16 May 2026 opening.

Takahiro Iwasaki Reflection Model (Perfect Bliss) 2010–12

In our initial preparations, we focused on large-scale Collection works by Japanese artist Takahiro Iwasaki and Thai artist Montien Boonma. The process of testing the installation of bespoke mounting systems for their works Reflection Model (Perfect Bliss) 2010–12 (illustrated) and Lotus sound 1992, respectively, and a consideration of their touring and long-term storage requirements, have resulted in detailed documentation that will be useful for future travel and display, as well as custom-built packing solutions to ensure their safe transport, handling and display outside the Gallery.

Also salient for touring exhibitions, the Gallery’s compliance with international and Australian trade regulations regarding native wildlife was a critical aspect of planning for this exhibition. When artworks incorporate organic materials, such as feathers, shells, sharks’ teeth and Australian native grasses, for instance, each organic item must be identified to its species level and accompanied by proof of its legal source. Export and import permits needed to be secured prior to artwork shipment, too, and involved extensive consultation with artists, curators and scientists; each work in the show is supported by documentation outlining specific handling instructions, installation and artist preferences. Throughout the process, the QAGOMA team has kept the artists’ intent and the artworks’ display central, particularly as many of the works in the exhibition have never been showcased outside an Australian context.

Ken Thaiday Sr Beizam headdress (Black bamboo triple hammerhead shark) 1999-2000

Sofia Tekela-Smith Untitled (from 'Lovely hula hands' series) 2002

Lola Greeno Green maireener necklace 2007

Shirley Macnamara Erkel (vessel) 2010

Aligned with the QAGOMA vision for sustainability, we have integrated strategies to reduce carbon impact into the shipping and transportation of these works. Supported by generous lead times, the largest consignment of these Collection works will travel via sea freight in temperature-controlled, locationmonitored containers. Monitoring occurs at two levels — the container environment and the crate — with sensors tracking temperature, humidity, shock and location throughout the journey. We needed to design packing and crating strategies for touring and long-term storage to reduce reliance on plastics and minimise handling risks; the works’ fully insulated museum-standard crates and reusable plywood stillages reflect the Gallery’s commitment to sustainable museum practices.

This significant collaboration between QAGOMA and the V&A represents an important moment in the international presentation of contemporary art from Australia, Asia and the Pacific. Through meticulous planning, cultural consultation and a commitment to sustainability, QAGOMA has ensured that each artwork is transported, installed and displayed with the utmost care and respect for artistic intent. ‘Rising Voices’ will offer museum audiences an unparalleled opportunity to engage with works that reflect the richness of cultural traditions and contemporary perspectives across our region.

Catherine Marklund is Exhibition Coordinator (Touring), QAGOMA

Michael Cook Majority Rule (Tunnel) 2014

Naomi Hobson A Warrior without a Weapon (series) 2018

The Victoria and Albert Museum, London (V&A) is the world’s leading museum of art, design and performance with collections unrivalled in their scope and diversity, spanning 5000 years of human creativity. It was established in 1852 to make works of art available to all and to inspire British designers and manufacturers. Today, its purpose is to champion creative industry, inspire the next generation, and spark everyone’s imagination.

Rising Voices: Contemporary Art from Asia, Australia and the Pacific
16 May 2026 – 10 January 2027
Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A)
South Kensington, London