Asia Week, New York, New York
March 2006
Please view our Asia Week, New York, New York checklist at the end of the article...
Spring in New York belongs to Asia. Museum curators, collectors, connoisseurs, dealers, designers—anyone with the slightest interest in Tang horses or Tibetan textiles—converge for a dizzying array of all things Asian. If you plug into the scene, you become part of a global marketplace, the momentary epicenter of Asian art, a hot commodity in the art world. New York’s Asia Week, which occurs in spring (late March into early April this year) and fall, is the focal point for significant Asian art auctions, gallery shows, exhibitions, lectures and most importantly, conversations with dealers and specialists. Count on an intellectually edifying experience as you make the tour of galleries and shows with seemingly endless displays of art and artifacts. Whether you’re a spectator or serious collector, Asia Week is a whirlwind of activity with public viewings of remarkable items at auction houses as well as galleries and shows. Asia Week also reveals what is currently available in the market, which is as changeable as the Chinese economy.
Spring Asia Week has two bookends: the downtown Arts of Pacific Asia New York show (March 30–April 2) and the International Asian Art Fair (March 31–April 5). Both shows are strictly vetted and attract dealers from around the world. Slightly larger and with high-end as well as lower-priced objects, Arts of Pacific Asia showcases 82 international galleries. It presents art and artifacts from Asia, the Pacific Islands and the subcontinent.
The gallery booths at Arts of Pacific Asia are extremely diverse, varying from Chinese bronzes, ceramics and textiles, Japanese netsuke and costumes, to prehistoric stone sculpture, Korean rank badges and Indian buddhas. Speaking about last year’s show, Bill Caskey, who produces the show with Elizabeth Lees, says that the 2005 results were “robust in the mid-to-low price points” ($5,000–$50,000) for fine objects, jewelry and furniture.
When asked about trends, London-based Anna Haughton, who organizes the uptown International Asian Art Fair with her husband, Brian, says that the Chinese market is still very strong, but because of the scarcity of material, the market is leaning more toward contemporary paintings and photography. Issues of provenance, authenticity and competition from the internal Chinese market have caused a sea change in what’s available.
In spite of dealer woes in finding authentic Asian antiques, the variety of objects at the uptown fair, ranging from arms and armor, basketwork and bronzes to furniture, sculpture and contemporary painting and photography, is overwhelming. It takes more than one visit to experience all the treasures that abound. The setting too is usually enchanting, with well-lit floral centerpieces, carpeted walkways and handsomely designed, elaborate booths. The 55 exhibitors are among the world’s leading specialist dealers in Near Eastern, Indian, Himalayan, Tibetan, Southeast Asian and Far Eastern art from antiquity to the present.
Other highlights of Asia Week are the small-scale, often quite specialized gallery exhibits throughout the city. Auction house activity also tends to be lively and worthwhile. Christie’s will hold three major sales on March 28, 29 and 30 for Japanese and Korean art, Chinese works of art and Indian and Southeast Asian Art, respectively. Sotheby’s sales will be March 28, 29 and 30, for the Jucker Collection of Nepalese, Tibetan and Himalayan paintings, Indian and Southeast Asian Art, and Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art. For the first time, Sotheby’s is initiating a separate sale on March 31 of contemporary Asian art, focusing on China, Korea and Japan. Responding to the market’s interest in contemporary work, Sotheby’s has created a new Chinese contemporary art department and appointed Xiaoming Zhang as its specialist. Viewing at the auction houses is open to the public a week before the sales.
From May 22 to 27, another celebration of Asian art will take place citywide. Asian Contemporary Art Week presents works produced by leading and emerging Asian artists who still live and work in their home countries as well as those who have emigrated. Lectures, exhibitions, receptions and performances are scheduled throughout the week in different parts of the city each evening. “The major focus this year will be on new video art,” says Melissa Chiu, director of Asia Society Museum. “We believe that some of the most challenging and intriguing work by Asian artists is in this new media.” Like the March Asia Week, the exhibition of video works presented in galleries and museums will be vetted by prominent curators.
Art & Antiques’ New York correspondent Bobbie Leigh specializes in Asian topics.
ASIA WEEK, NEW YORK, NEW YORK CHECKLIST
(Area code 212 unless otherwise noted)
The following list represents a sampling of Asia Week events; for a longer list of gallery and museum exhibitions, and auction information, visit www.ArtandAntiques.net.
FAIRS
International Asian Art Fair
Seventh Regiment Armory
Park Ave. at 67th St.
March 31-April 5
About 55 exhibitors. The special loan exhibition is “Arts of the Islamic World” with a focus on “the written word.” March 30 opening benefits Asia Society. April 2 panel discussion features experts in the field of Islamic art. April 3 and 4, Asia Society's director Melissa Chiu and fair exhibitor/dealer Michael Goedhuis will give separate lectures.
www.haughton.com
642-8572
Arts of Pacific Asia
Armory at Gramercy Park, 69th Street, Regiment Armory, Lexington Ave. 26th St.
March 29 show preview benefit; March 30-April 2. About 75 international galleries.
www.caskeylees.com
532-1516
Asian Contemporary Art Week
May 22 to 27
A city wide series of events focusing on Asian and Asian-American contemporary art in New York. Activities include exhibitions, gallery receptions, lectures, performances and studio visits. Most galleries will showcase installations and video artists. For details and a complete list of galleries, visit www.acaw.net.
MUSEUMS
Asia Society
725 Park Ave.
Special exhibition is “A Passion for Asia: The Rockefeller Family Collects,” a celebration of the museum's 50th anniversary and the legacy of the Rockefeller family's longstanding commitment to Asia. Important works originally purchased and owned by family members, including objects now held in public and private collections are exhibited.
www.asiasociety.org
517-ASIA
Japan Society
333 E. 47th St.
www.japansociety.org
832-1155
Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 Fifth Ave.
The “Hundred Antiques” in Chinese textiles, Chinese decorative patterns popular during the 17th-century.
535-7710
Rubin Museum of Art
150 W. 17th St. Himalayan art from the second century to the 19th century.
www.rmanyc.org
620-5000
AUCTIONS
Christie's
20 Rockefeller Plaza at 49th St.
March 28: Japanese and Korean art. March 29: Chinese works of art. March 30: Indian Southeast Asian art.
636-2000
Doyle New York
175 E. 87th St.
April 5: Asian Works of Art, showcasing the arts of China, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia from the Neolithic period through the 20th century.
427-2730
Sotheby's
1334 York Ave.
March 28: Jucker collection of Nepalese and Tibetan paintings. March 29: Indian and Southeast Asian art. March 30: Fine Chinese ceramics and works of art. March 31: contemporary Asian art: China, Japan, Korea.
606-7176
PRIVATE DEALERS, GALLERIES & SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS
Alberto Manuel Cheung
Chinese pottery and ceramics from Neolithic through Ming dynasty. By appointment only.
421-1662 or (917) 836-8111
Antique Japanese Arts, Koichi Yanagi Oriental Fine Arts
58-A E. 66th St.
Japanese antiques
744-5577
Arnold H. Lieberman
311 E. 72nd St., Apt. 10-G.
By appointment. Special Asia Week show of Hindu and Buddhist antiquities.
www.arnoldlieberman.com
861-4985
Art of the Past
1242 Madison Ave.
Antiquities from South, Central and Southeast Asia.
www.artofpast.com
860-7070
Barry Friedman Ltd.
32 E. 67th St.
During both Asia Week and Asian Contemporary Art Week, photography by Wang Wusheng and Zhang Huan, one of the leading contemporary Chinese artists, and ceramics by the Japanese master, Yoichi Ohira are on view.
www.barryfriedmanltd.com
794-8950
Berwald Oriental Art
5 E. 57th St., 19th floor
Chinese ceramics, sculpture and works of art from Warring States to early Qing dynasty. Asia Week special exhibition of sanci and blue glazed ware of the Tang dynasty.
www.berwald-oriental.com
319-1519
Carlton Rochell Asian Art
41 E. 57th St., fourth floor
Special exhibition of Indian and Southeast Asian art.
www.carltonrochell.com
759-7600
Chambers Fine Art
210 11th Ave., fourth floor
Contemporary Chinese art, including current important artists Zhang Huan and Shi Jinsong. Special for Asian Contemporary Art Week is Hong Lei's photography.
www.chambersfineart.com
414-1169
China 2000 Fine Art
5 E. 57th St.
Paintings by Shao Yixuan (1886-1954) March 28-April 22. During Asian Contemporary Art Week, exhibition will feature Lin Yan. There is also a special collection of miniature paintings by Pu Ru (1896-1963) March 28-April 22.
www.China2000FineArt.com
588-1198
China Gallery
5 E. 57th St.
New acquisitions, Chinese sculpture.
www.chinagallerycorp.com
838-7887
China Institute Gallery
125 E. 65th St.
“Trade, Taste and Transformation: Jingdezhen Porcelain for Japan, 1620-45.”
www.chinainstitute.org
744-8181
Cora Ginsburg LLC
19 E. 74th St.
Asian export textiles. By appointment.
www.coraginsburg.com
744-1352
Dai Ichi Gallery
249 E. 48th St.
“Clay Work and Textiles” (contemporary Japanese ceramics inspired by textiles).
www.daiichiarts.com
230-1680
E&J Frankel
1040 Madison Ave.
Special exhibition of Mongolian bronzes and sakli, small paintings from 17th to 19th centuries and Chinese Buddhist wood sculpture from the 13th and 14th century.
www.ejfrankel.com
879-5733
Eleanor Abraham Asian Art
345 E. 52nd St.
By appointment. Stone and bronze sculpture from India, Tibet, Pakistan and Southeast Asia from the third to 18th centuries.
www.eleanor-abraham.com
688-1667
Ethan Cohen Fine Arts
18 Jay St.
Special exhibition on the theme of antiquity and modernity breaking traditions.
625-1250
www.ecfa.com
Flying Cranes Antiques Ltd.
1050 Second Ave.
Edo and Meiji arts of Japan.
www.flyingcranesantiques.com
223-4600
Gallery ArtsIndia
206 Fifth Ave., fifth floor
“Altered Realities,” a show of contemporary Indian painters.
www.artsindia.com
725-6092
Gallery Korea, Korean Cultural Service
460 Park Ave., sixth floor
Pokim and Sylvia Wald paintings.
www.koreanculture.org
759-9550
Giuseppe Eskenazi at Pace Wildenstein
32 E. 57th St., second floor
Rarities from the 12th to first century B.C.
www.pacewildenstein.com
421-0835
Goedhuis Contemporary Gallery
42 E. 76 St.
Chinese contemporary ink paintings by Qin Feng.
www.goedhuiscontemporary.com
535-6954
J.J. Lally & Co. Oriental Art
41 E. 57th St., 14th floor.
“Arts of Ancient China,” special Asia Week exhibition of bronze ritual vessels and early ceramics.
371-3380
Jack Tilton Gallery
8 E. 76th St.
737-2221. www.jacktiltongallery.com. New Chinese contemporary art, including Gu Wenda, Xu Bing and Wang Bo.
Jason McCoy Inc.
41 E. 57th St., 11th floor
Special exhibition of contemporary American-Chinese painter Li-Lan and Japanese sculptor Masayuki Nagare.
www.jasonmccoyinc.com
319-1996
Joan B. Mirviss Ltd.
By appointment. A special exhibition of porcelain vessels by Takegoshi Jun.
www.mirviss.com
799-4021
Kaikodo
74 E. 79th St.
By appointment. Chinese old masters and contemporary painting in traditional format, and early ceramics, bronzes and sculpture.
www.kaikodo.com
585-0121
Kang Collection Korean Fine Art
9 E. 82 St.
By appointment. Classic and contemporary Korean ink paintings.
www.kangcollection.com
734-1490
Koichi Yanagi Oriental Fine Arts
58-A E. 66th St.
By appointment. Antique Japanese works of art.
744-5577
Koko Chinese Antiques
42 E. 66th St.
Chinese furniture and sculpture.
www.kokochineseart.com
439-6390
Koo New York
126 E. 64th St., second floor
Special Asia Week exhibition of Korean antiques and contemporary ceramics, paintings and photographs.
www.koonewyork.com
(646) 918-7030
Liza Hyde
565 Park Ave.
By appointment. Antique Japanese screens from the 17th to 20th centuries.
www.liza-hyde.com
752-3581
M. D. Flacks
38 E. 57th St., sixth floor
Special exhibition of rare, classical Chinese furniture and scholars' objects made from huanghuali, zitan, walnut, cypress, elm, marble and limestone.
838-4575
M. Sutherland Fine Arts Ltd.
55 E. 80th St., second floor
Special exhibition of new contemporary paintings by Taiwanese artist Hsu Kuo-huang.
249-0428
Michael Cohn Asian Antiquities
24 E. 11th St.
By appointment. Hindu and Buddhist sculpture, paintings and art objects from Southeast and Central Asia and the Himalayas. Special exhibition of Jun Sik's timed-exposure photography of monks in meditation.
www.mcohngallery.com
473 2347
Mika Gallery
41 E. 57th St., eighth floor
Special exhibition of Japanese religious arts from prehistoric times through the 16th century. Displays of kagami (mirrors), Noh masks and sculpture.
www.mikagallery.com
888-3900
Naga Antiques
145 E. 61st St.
Special Asia Week exhibition of early Edo period screens and country ceramics and lacquer, mostly 19th and early 20th century.
www.nagaantiques.com
593-2788
Nancy Wiener Gallery Inc.
The Ansonia, 2109 Broadway, No. 8-93
By appointment. Ancient Indian, Himalayan and Southeast Asian sculpture and painting.
360-7028
Nicholas Grindley
By appointment. Classic Chinese furniture.
619-7211
Orientations Gallery
By appointment. Japanese decorative arts of late Edo, Meiji and Taisho periods.
www.orientationsgallery.com
772-7705
Richfield Antiques
144 W. 27th St., 5-R.
By appointment. Chinese antique furniture, porcelain and works of art.
207-4066
Scholten Japanese Art
145 W. 58th St., Ste. 2-H
By appointment. Woodblock prints, paintings, screens, lacquer and netsuke.
www.scholten-japanese-art.com
585-0474
Sebastian Izzard Asian Art
17 E. 76th St., third floor.
“The Floating World in the 18th-Century” (Japanese prints, screens and paintings).
www.izzardasianart.com
794-1522
Sundaram Tagore Gallery
547 W. 27th St.
Contemporary paintings by Natvar Bhavsar (Asia Week), and Sohan Qadri and Anil Revri (Contemporary Asian Art Week).
www.sundaramtagore.com
677-4520
Talwar Gallery
108 E. 16th St.
Group exhibition of contemporary Indian art, installations, sculpture and painting.
www.talwargallery.com
673-3096
Tambaran Gallery
5 E. 82nd St.
Tribal art from Africa, Asia, Polynesia and Oceania.
570-065
Throckmorton Fine Art,
145 E. 57th St., third floor
Tang ceramics.
www.throckmorton-nyc.com
223-1059
Tong-In Gallery New York
16 W. 32nd St., Ste.
Korean contemporary ceramics.
www.tonginstore.com
503. 564-2020
WaterMoon Gallery
110 Duane St.
By appointment. “Serendipity in New York,” of Sri Lankan contemporary art in coordination with the Private Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
www.theprivategallery.com
925-5556
Wiesbrod Chinese Art Ltd.
36 E. 57th St., third floor
Early Chinese works of art and ceramics from archaic times to the Qing dynasty.
www.weisbrodchineseart.com
319-1335
William Lipton Ltd.
41 E. 57th St., eighth floor
Exhibition of important Southeast Asian sculpture and exemplary Chinese furniture.
www.williamliptonltd.com
751-8131