Got itchy feet? Hankering to visit the world? Then book your seat now! ACCA’s highly acclaimed lecture series will do some major globe trotting in 2015. Expect Venice without the menace (but with all the palazzos and Bellinis), Paris with the sizzle and New York New York with a Martini thrown in.
It’s art history but not as you know it. ACCA’s intrepid team will explore the best and most interesting galleries, art events, cafés, architecture and visit the writers, philosophers, filmmakers and artists that have shaped the unique culture of each city. Enjoy a complimentary regional drink, created by Sipsmith Independent Spirits & Hippocampus Metropolitan Distillery. All in the comfort of the ACCA departure lounge.
Beijing's history stretches back 3 millennia, yet it’s known as much for its contemporary art and architecture as its ancient sites. Mikala Tai will explore the many sides of China's great capital on two overlapping tours; one for the fine art gallerists and one for those who want to get their hands a little dirty.
Your tour guide for Beijing:
Mikala Tai was appointed Director of 4A in June 2015 and will take up the position in July. Mikala is a curator, researcher and academic specialising in contemporary Asian art and Australian design, who over the past decade has collaborated with local, national and international organisations to strengthen ties between Australia and Asia. Curatorial projects include Closing The Gap: Contemporary Indonesian Art (2011) at Melbourne International Fine Art (MIFA) when she was director; Yang Yongliang (2009) at 45 Downstairs, Melbourne; public programs for Swimming in Sand; Growing Rice under an Umbrella (2014) at No Vacancy Gallery, Melbourne; project managing Common Threads (2015), a project initiated by the Council of Textile and Fashion Industries of Australia (TFIA) to strengthen the relationship between Australian fashion and textiles and Hong Kong; and leading VIP Tours to Art Basel Hong Kong, Art Dubai and Sharjah Biennale. As an academic Mikala has taught at both RMIT and the University of Melbourne in both undergraduate and graduate programs in Contemporary Art, Modernism and Exhibition Management, in addition to having devised and delivered the inaugural Contemporary Asian Art syllabus at RMIT (2012 – ) and the first China Fieldwork Course (2015 – )with Rebecca Coates and Kate McNeill at the University of Melbourne. More recently Mikala was the founder and director of Supergraph – Australia’s Contemporary Graphic Art Fair, which has been held twice at the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne and exhibited at Somerset House, London (2015). She was also part of the public programs team for Melbourne Now (2013) at the National Gallery of Victoria, and previously the Cultural Program Manager for the Melbourne Fashion Festival (2009-2013). Mikala currently sits on the board of BUS Projects, Melbourne. In 2006 Mikala completed her Bachelor of Arts (Honours) at the University of Melbourne and in early 2015 submitted her PhD at UNSW Art & Design examining the influence of the Global City on China’s local art infrastructure.
