Asia Week New York 2014 - March 14 - March 22 2014

Today marks the 1st day of Asia Week New York 2014, which runs through March 22nd.  The event is open and free to the public.  The exhibits reveals the rarest and finest Asian examples of ceramics, jewelry, textiles, paintings, sculpture, bronzes, prints, photographs and jades, representing artistry, ingenuity and imagination from every corner and time period of Asia. 

The exhibitors include a top-tier roster of 47 international Asian art specialists-the largest number to date- and five major auction houses as well as 19 world-renowned museums and Asian cultural institutions.  Visit www.asiaweeknewyork.com for more information.

I had a chance to join the press preview for Asia Week this past Wednesday. It was a full day affair, where we flew through 30 galleries in less 10 hours.  I had an unforgettable time viewing some spectacular pieces with fascinating stories.  The galleries did an excellent job of explaining their finest pieces.  It was certainly a feast for the eyes, mind, and soul.  Here are some highlights.  

 This year, Scholten Japanese Art Gallery's exhibit is titled "Erotic Art of Japan: Everybody's Doing It".

Asia Week 2013 Press Walk

It's a rare event that will have me gladly wake up at 6am without pressing the snooze button.   But at 8am yesterday, I was at China 2000 Fine Art, eager to partake in the Asia Week New York's Press Walk.  Asia Week's PR maven, Marilyn White led a group to preview some of the galleries participating in Asia Week New York, the annual collaboration of international Asian art specialists, major auction houses, museums and Asian cultural institutions.  We visited around 30 galleries in the span of 12 hours and had a fascinating, eye-opening and education experience.

At its fifth year, the Asia Week takes place in metropolitan New York with a diverse group of galleries showing antiques, traditional and contemporary artwork from Asia inluding China, Japan, Korea, Tibet, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, India, and is open to the public from March 15 - March 23, 2013.

Here are a few highlights of my day.

Dai Ichi Arts 
Contemporary Chinese and Japanese
100 Central Park South 11C,
Newy York, NY 10019

Dai Ichi Art's exhibit, The Best of the Two Contemporary Asian Countries:  Chinese Shuimo (水墨 water ink) Paintings and Japanese Ceramics, truly was a representation of the perfect melding of Western and Eastern techniques in Chinese Shuimo Paintings and Japanese Ceramics.

Kato Tsubusa (b. 1962) Square Bowl, 2008.  Pale blue glazed porcelain

Hayashi Yasuo 林康夫, Kawabata Kentaro  小原康裕,  Miwa Kazuhiko 三輪和彥, Nagae Shigekazu 長江重和, Wada Morihiro 和田守卑良 and Wakao Toshisada 若尾利貞 represent the golden age and the modern renaissance of ceramic making in Japan.  Their  work is traditional yet curretn, architectural yet abstract; disciplined yet free spirited.

Li Huisheng 李惠生, Camels in Tian Shen Mountain (2002)

Li Huisheng 李惠生, rediscovers the essence of traditional Shuimo paintings in his unique, expressive and vigourous style.

Asia Week Press Walk

In anticipation of Asia Week 2011 which is from March 18 - March 26, a Press walk and Preview event was held at the Ralph M.Chait Galleries.  Carlton Rochell, chairman of Asia Week New York 2011  made opening remarks, estimating that $100 million worth of Asian Art would be on the market for Asia Week and as many as 10,000 to 20,000 objects of art would be on display.  Vice President of Ralph M. Chait Galleries, Steve Chait spoke about the history of Asia Week and the Galleries' background and also gave us a tour of their spring exhibition. 

Asia Week is an unprecedented collaboration of more than 30 prominent Asian art specialists, 5 auction houses and 17 museums and Asian cultural institutions.  There are thirty-four extraordinary Asian art exhibitions to be simultaneously on view in celebration of Asia Week 2011.   Participating dealers include Bonham's, Christie's, Sotheby's, Doyle New York and iGavel.  We were provided with a compact 88 page guide detailing the Calendar of Events and different dealers with corresponding area of specialization, featuring a broad spectrum of expertise including Contemporary Chinese, Chinese, Indian, Himalayan, Southeast Asian, Japanese, Contemporary Japanese, Korean, and contemporary Korean art.

Carlton Rochell, chairman of Asia Week New York 2011

Steven Chait, Vice President, Ralph M. Chait Galleries

The Ralph M. Chait Galleries have a history of over 100 years in New York City, and is one of the oldest galleries to specialize in fine antique Chinese porcelain.  Some of the pieces that stood out included a rare large blue and white porcelain plate which had been off the market for 60 years and charming and lively stucco figure of a seated Lohan.  It was truly special exhibit with many vibrant pieces.  Only a few blocks away are visit-worthy exhibits at MD Flacks showing a variety of Chinese Scholar's trays and Dalton Somaré displaying early artwork from the Indian Subcontinent.

Rare Large Blue and White Porcelain Plate (Shunzi/early Kangxi period, mid 17th century), Ralph M. Chait Galleries

Large Stucco Figure of a Seated Lohan (Yuan/Ming dynasty, ca: 14th/15th century), Ralph M. Chait Galleries

Allan S. Chait, Head of Firm, and Son of Ralph M. Chait

Rare Large Cast Iron Fgure of Manjsuri Riding upon a Lion,  (1344), Ralph M. Chait Galleries

MD Flacks Exhibit - Scholar Trays

MD Flacks Exhibit - Scholar Trays

MD Flacks Exhibit - Scholar Trays

Dalton Somaré Exhibit

Dalton Somaré Exhibit

There are dozens of special events planned for the week.  On Tuesday, March 22, Japan Society will host a lecture and private reception in celebration of Bye Bye Kitty!!!,  a group show featuring  contemporary young Japanese artists, most of whom are based in Japan and little-known in the United States.  Visit www.AsiaWeekNY.com for more information.