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Asian Art

Myanmar (Burma), Gautama Buddha, calling the earth to witness, 1750-1800, lacquer, red paint, gold leaf, glass, 75.0 x 59.0 x 56.0 cm; Gift of Joan Beer, Anne Kidman, Douglas Le Messurier, Belinda Morgan, Richard Walsh and Janet Worth through the Art Gallery of South Australia Foundation Collectors Club 2007, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.

Asian Art

The Asian art collection, which begun in 1904, represents art from across the region, with focuses on the pre-modern art of Japan, Southeast Asia, India and the Middle East. The collection includes stone, wood and bronze sculpture, ceramics, textiles, paintings and decorative arts such as lacquer ware. Our dedicated Asian galleries include Australia’s only permanent display of Islamic art. Highlights of the contemporary Asian art collection include a series of textiles by Indonesian artist Eko Nugroho.

Japan, Summer robe (katabira), with hollyhock, chrysanthemum and ‘rising steam’ motifs, c.1780, Edo (Tokyo), plain weave ramie, ink painting, stencil imitation tie-dyeing, embroidery in silk, gold wrapped thread, 150.0 x 127.0 cm; Gift of Joan Beer in memory of her husband Colin through the Art Gallery of South Australia Foundation Collectors Club 2019, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.

Curator's Insight

A prized late eighteeneth century summer robe enters the AGSA collection

Curator's Insight

AGSA'S Japanese brush and ink paintings collection is expanded with recent acquisitions

Japan, Tea bowl (chawan) named Morning Light (Akebono), 1650-1700, Shigaraki, Shiga prefecture, Japan, earthenware, ash glaze, gold, silver mends, 8.0 x 13.0 cm (diam.); M.J.M. Carter AO Collection through the Art Gallery of South Australia Foundation 2019, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.

Curator's Insight

Russell Kelty introduces the only known, named historic tea bowl in Australian public collections

Japan, Girls day festival set (hina matsuri), 19th-20th century, Tokyo, wood, lacquer, gold, silver, metal, silk, paper, black and colour pigments, animal hair; Gift of Andrew and Hiroko Gwinnett through the Art Gallery of South Australia Foundation 2018. Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gift Program, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.

Curator's Insight

Russell Kelty shares the dolls' festival (hina matsuri) set acquired into the AGSA collection

Indonesia, Bali, Wrathful form of Krishna (pamurtian), pedestal for architectural ridge pole column (tiang agung), 1900-75, Bali, Indonesia, wood, pigment and gold leaf, 56.0 x 17.0 x 17.0 cm; Gift of Michael Abbott AO QC and Sue Crafter through the Art Gallery of South Australia Foundation 2018. Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gift Program, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.

Curator's Insight

Morocco, Pair of doors with geometrical design, 19th century, Fez, Morocco, wood, pigment, metallic paint, tin, copper, 260.0 x 169.0 cm; Gift of Joan Beer, Colin Cowan, Nick and Fiona Grieve, Adam Gwinnett, Lipman Karas, Mark Livesey QC, Leo Mahar, Diana McLaurin and Judith Rischbieth through the Art Gallery of South Australia Foundation Collectors Club 2018, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.

Curator's Insight

AGSA's historical Islamic Art collection is strengthened with this acquisition of Moroccan doors.

India, Akbar enthroned, 1595-1600, possibly Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India, opaque watercolour and gold on paper, 37.0 x 22.0 cm; M.J.M. Carter AO Collection through the Art Gallery of South Australia Foundation 2019, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, photo: Saul Steed.

Curator's Insight

The acquisition of the portrait of Akbar the Great is shared by James Bennett.

Turkey, Talismanic shirt, 1850-1900, Turkey, cotton, gold leaf, pigment and ink, hand-stitching, gold buttons, 81.0 cm; Barrie and Judith Heaven Collection. Gift of M.J.M. Carter AO through the Art Gallery of South Australia Foundation 2019, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.

Curator's Insight

A major landmark addition to the Islamic art collection.

Indonesia, Bali, Star calendar (plintangan), 1840-60, Tulikup, Bali, Indonesia, bark cloth (ulon tage), natural pigment and ink, 160.0 x 220.0 cm; M.J.M. Carter AO Collection through the Art Gallery of South Australia Foundation 2019, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.

Curator's Insight

Explore the significance of the Balinese Star calendar

Vietnam, Chu Dau, Ewer, in the shape of a phoenix, late 15th century, Chu Dau, Hai Duong province, Vietnam, stoneware, moulded with underglaze blue decoration, 26.5 cm (height); Gift of Alastair Hunter OAM through the Art Gallery of South Australia Foundation 2019 in recognition of the friendship of his parents Elizabeth and Tom Hunter and Dick Richards, Curator of Asian Art (1968-2000), and his long and meritorious contribution to the Gallery, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.

Curator's Insight

James Bennett celebrates a Vietnamese ceramic vessel.