The Fair Highlights Art from Asia and its Diaspora
Over the weekend, the ninth edition of Asia NOW took place in Paris at the Monnaie de Paris, representing the best of the Asian art world. From October 20-22, the fair brought together galleries and artists from the continent and its diaspora to exhibit across traditional gallery booths, special projects, and more.
Galleries New and Returning Attended Asia NOW
Over 20 galleries in attendance this year presented for the first time, including Galerie Peter Kilchmann bringing the work of Leiko Ikemura and Shirana Shahbazi, the work of Young-Jun TAK presented by Fragment, and Kubra Khademi on view with Galerie Eric Mouchet. Other first-time participants include names like Art On Istanbul, Ayyam Gallery, Tabari Artspace, Gene Gallery, The Third Line, and Gallery Isabelle van den Eynde. Meanwhile, returning art spaces included names like Intersections Gallery, Over the Influence, MadeIn Gallery, EACH MODERN, Nova Contemporary, and ROH Projects.
Yeo Workshop presenting Fyerool Darma, courtesy of Asia NOW.
Asia NOW Welcomed Guest Curators Slavs and Tatars
The weekend’s edition welcomed the artist collective Slavs and Tatars as guest curators of programming that centered Persian textiles and their role in cultural practices. Looking at the Persian word “abr-bandi,” which means “to knot clouds,” the collective conceived an exhibition featuring 14 artists working in areas of textiles, by names like Medina Bazarğali, Gulnur Mukazhanova, Aziza Shadenova, Saule Dyussenbina, and Said Atabekov. Accompanying the exhibition, Slavs and Tatars also conceived a Reading Room for gatherings and discussions and a traditional Kazakh yurt, in which a Chaikhaneh tea salon could be found.
Special Projects at Asia NOW 2023
New to ASIAN NOW this year was the NOW ON sector, showcasing new galleries with presentations of emerging artists—like Inna Art Space, THE SHOPHOUSE, Galerie BAQ, and Lechbinska. There were also a number of noteworthy special projects, including the second edition of the COOKING IS CARING initiative, bridging ties between art and cooking with Lei Saito, the installation “Perseverance of Regeneration” by Chen Zhen presented by Galleria Continua, Galerie Enrico Navarra’s exhibition of Yuree Kensaku,and Tabula Rasa’s presentation of Eva Yi Zhang. The fair also featured a lineup of performances (like those by Maitha Abdalla, Moe Satt, and Selin Davasse), conversations presented in partnership with Thanks for Nothing, and a series of workshops for children.
Quynh Lâm’s performance “History of color,” curated by Mizuki Endo, 2019, courtesy de the artist and Fondation Fiminco.
Galerie Anne Laure Buffard, courtesy of Asia NOW.
