queensland

North Korean Artists Banned from Australia

Filed under: Art

Brisbane, Australia is home to an unusual art exhibition -- the type that's a welcome break from what you typically see in major museums around the world. The Queensland Art Gallery is hosting the 6th Asia-Pacific Triennial through April 2010, and for the first time, art from North Korea has a large presence. Nick Bonner of Koryo Tours is co-curator of the exhibition, which reflects three years of commissioning works.

But, if you're interested in meeting the artists, you'll be disappointed.

Originally, five artists from Mansudae Art Studio were going to attend the show and discuss their work, but the Australian government declined their visas at the last minute, according to Koryo Tours. The artists in question were Pak Hyo Song, Kang Yong Sam, O Song Gyu, Rim Ho Chol, Ri Jong and Pak Yun Chol.

A spokesman for the Australian government explained, according to The Courier Mail, "The studio reportedly produces almost all of the official artworks in North Korea, including works that clearly constitute propaganda aimed at glorifying and supporting the North Korean regime." He continued, "To make an exception in this case would have represented a relaxation of Australia's visa ban and sent an inappropriate message to the North Korean regime."

Tags: art exhibit, art exhibits, Art Gallery, art show, ArtExhibit, ArtExhibits, ArtGallery, artist, Artists, ArtShow, artwork, australia, Brisbane, BrisbaneAustralia, dprk, north korea, NorthKorea, queensland

Continue reading “North Korean Artists Banned from Australia”

American Philanthropist Makes Big Donation In Australia

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Big Givers

Billionaire Chuck Feeney is in the news again with another big donation. He has pledged more than $100 million Australian to the Queensland Institute of Medical Research in Queensland, Australia. The money will be used to help fund three major new research institutes and hopefully attract more top scientists to Brisbane. Feeney's Atlantic Philanthropies has donated more than $270 million to Queensland scientific and medical research over the past decade.

Why would and Irish-American philanthropist be giving away big money in Australia? Feeney is quoted in Australia's Courier Mail as saying that when he visited Queensland he found a "lot of people worthy of support and not getting it and I was pleased to help." He is hoping that the work he funds in Queensland can improve health around the globe. Projects said to be on tap include researching breast cancer susceptibility genes and the genetic risk of schizophrenia, as well as funding clinical trials of a new malaria vaccine. Ian Frazer, the inventor of the cervical cancer vaccine, is behind the Translational Research Institute at Princess Alexandra Hospital, one of the institutes that Feeney is funding and the amount of scientists in the area has been on the rise. Frazer is currently at work on a skin cancer vaccine.

Source

Tags: australia, billionaire, chuck feeney, ChuckFeeney, donations, ian frazer, IanFrazer, queensland

Mandalay Coral Gardens, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Today's estate Mandalay Coral Gardens, in north Queensland, was voted Australia's House of the Year by the Australian Master Builders Association in 2007-2008. The home was designed by architect Peter Connelly and constructed in 2005 by owner Bill Sharpe, whose firm was the 2007–2008 "builder of the year" in Australia. The home sits on a peninsula with views of the Great Barrier Reef and has over 13,000 square feet of space. The four-bedroom home's automatic sliding glass walls and terraces enhance the views and the infinity pool wraps around three sides of the house. There is also room for your own fleet with a 24-berth private marina and a private helipad. The house comes with a private beach and Tepanyaki pavilion with a kitchen, powder room and dining area. The property includes a caretaker's house, office and gym. It is expected to sell for around $10 million.

Experience more lush living in luxury homes and mansions or see the stars living large with celebrity homes galleries at AOL Real Estate.

Gallery: Mandalay Coral Gardens