Archetypes: 30 Years of 4A

Over three decades, Sydney’s 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art has had a major impact on Australia’s art ecosystem quite out of proportion to its size. Established as Gallery 4A in 1996 at a time marked by then-Prime Minister Paul Keating’s foreign policy, ‘pivot’ to Asia, 4A has been a platform for emerging Asian Australian artists. But it has also reached outwards, bringing the work of significant figures from the region to Australian audiences. The long-running programs have enabled Australian artists to connect with Asia, for example through the 4A International Artist Residency Program at Shen Shaomin’s studio in Beijing. Over time the Gallery’s representation of Asia and Asianness has expanded to recognise South Asian, First Nations and Pasifika artists, creating a strong sense of community for the broader diaspora. Archetypes: 30 Years of 4A celebrates its survival – no mean feat – and represents the demographic, generational, and geopolitical shifts of the last three decades.