MAAP in Beijing 2002
THE ART MUSEUM OF CHINA Millennium Monument is an enormous sun-dial built to mark the turn of the century. Importantly, the Millennium Monument represents the 'new China' while reflecting a glorious but troubled history . Uniformed guards stand on the long approach that chronicles every year of the millennium, ending with a view to the future. Its pristine marble interior, which houses the exhibition halls where MAAP (Multimedia Arts Asia Pacific) took place, provided a suitably contemporary backdrop for this festival of the work of new media artists from throughout the Asia Pacific region and, in some cases, beyond.
There was a lot of talk at MAAP about 'the new China', and as we spoke about such matters the Central Committee, who would meet two weeks later, was planning to phase out some of its long serving members to further facilitate the monumental change currently under way in Beijing. Today the Forbidden City dissolves into a modem metropolis, dominated by cranes and shiny new skyscrapers, flourishing in an atmosphere that is relentlessly positive. While there is ample evidence of a militaristic
past, soldiers on parade from dawn to dusk outside the Millennium Monument smile politely at groups of tourists as they march past. MAAP had received the official blessing of the Chinese Government and this small move in itself was indicative that China is on the move. Again.
MAAP also marked the 30th Anniversary of Chinese-Australian relations and thus it was an event upon which the Australian Embassy was able to focus as evidence of a continuing cordial relationship with China. Significantly, however, MAAP provided an opportunity for Chinese artists, writers and academics to engage with a number of their... The rest of this article is available to subscribers of Eyeline