ASIA WEEK

Minouk Lim, Portable Keeper Sea, 2020, HD video and sound in loop, 5 minutes 22 seconds, ⓒ Minouk Lim; Courtesy Asia Society

Celebrate the start of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this May with the many engaging events at our New York-based member Museums and Institutions. Mark your calendars to experience the impactful contributions and achievements of the AAPI communities!

ASIA SOCIETY
Curatorial Conversations: Asia Society Museum and Sharjah Biennial 16
Saturday, May 4 from 2:30-5pm

Presented with Sharjah Art Foundation: Join Asia Society for a three-part program highlighting the curatorial and discursive frameworks that guide both the forthcoming Sharjah Biennial 16 and the Asia Society Museum, exploring indigeneity in Asia.

To purchase tickets and learn more, click here.

Artist Talk: Minouk Lim
Friday, May 17 from 6:30-8pm

Join Asia Society for a conversation with multimedia artist and 2024 Asia Arts Game Changer Awardee Minouk Lim. Lim discusses the development of her art practice over the last 20 years with Yasufumi Nakamori, Director of Asia Society Museum.

To purchase tickets and learn more, click here.

BROOKLYN MUSEUM OF ART
Pop-Up Poetry: Kundiman’s 20th Anniversary
Saturday, May 4 from 7:30-8:30pm

Hear poets Margaret Rhee, Purvi Shah, R. A. Villanueva, and Gein Wong read original work to mark the 20th anniversary of Kundiman, a national organization dedicated to nurturing writers and readers of Asian American and Pacific Islander literature. All four poets attended Kundiman’s inaugural retreat. Seating is limited and is first come, first served.

To learn more, click here.

Suneil Sanzgiri: Here the Earth Grows Gold
Closing this Sunday May 5 

Be sure to catch Suneil Sanzgiri’s first solo museum exhibition exploring the concept of diaspora as a way to reconfigure our understanding of history and belonging before it closes this Sunday, the 5th.

To learn more, click here.

THE CHARLES B. WANG CENTER
Gallery Tour: John W. Winkler: The Chinatown Etchings
Wednesday, May 8 from 12-12:30pm

Journey through a captivating world of etchings in this monthly guided gallery tour of their featured exhibition, John W. Winkler: The Chinatown Etchings with exhibition curator A. Rex Rivolo, who will offer invaluable insights into the print techniques, themes, and cultural context present in this show.

To register and learn more about this free event, click here.

CHINA INSTITUTE
Artist Talk with Yang Yongliang
Tuesday, May 7 from 6-7pm

In conjunction with their current exhibit, Shan Shui Reboot: Re-envisioning Landscape for a Changing World, join China Institute for an enlightening evening with acclaimed artist Yang Yongliang who will delve into the inspirations and techniques behind his innovative works.

To register and learn more, click here.

Tea For Harmony
Xinyang Maojian Tea Cultural Fair
Thursday, May 23 from 4-6pm

In celebration of International Tea Day, join the China Institute with your friends and family for their Tea For Harmony—Xinyang Maojian Tea Cultural Fair for an assortment of specialty teas, music and cultural peformances flown in from Xinyang, Henan, China,

To purchase tickets and learn more, click here.

JAPAN SOCIETY
Morning Meditations
Friday, May 31 at 11am

Investigate the wisdom of Zen’s textual tradition and its relevance in our contemporary daily lives with a zazen (seated) meditation session led by Muken Sensei, will include an introduction to meditation practice and a brief overview of the art of Zen painting.

To register and learn more, click here.

JAPANESE ART SOCIETY OF AMERICA
Zoom Webinar: Hiroshige’s 100 Famous Views of Edo
Friday, May 13 at 5 pm EDT

Noted curator and author Dr. Andreas Marks, Mary Griggs Burke Curator of Japanese and Korean Art and Director of the Clark Center at the Minneapolis Institute of Art will discuss his newly published book of Hiroshige’s One Hundred Famous Views of Edo: The Definitive Collector’s Edition.

To register and learn more, click here.

THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Events
Throughout the month of May

In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, The Met is hosting various events from tours to talks for all ages.

To register and learn more, click here.

The Big in the Small: Shocks of Scale in Howard Hodgkin’s Collection of Indian Paintings
Thursday, May 9 from 6–7pm

Join Molly Aitken, Associate Professor, Art History, City University of New York Graduate Center as she discusses Howard Hodgkin’s collection of Indian paintings and the world of kings, palaces, elephants, delicate flowers, and thrilling hunts to understand what shifts of scale were designed to do to the imagination of the viewer.

To register for this free event and learn more, click here.

Artists on Artworks—Preeti Vasudevan on Indian Skies: The Howard Hodgkin Collection of Indian Court Painting
Friday, May 17 from 6–6:45pm

In conjunction with the current exhibit, Indian Skies: The Howard Hodgkin Collection of Indian Court Painting, join award-winning choreographer and performer Preeti Vasudevan for a creative exploration of this exhibition and experience Vasudevan’s insights on works in the exhibition through movement and storytelling and hear connections to her own artistic practice, which draws inspiration from classical Indian dance.

To register for this free event and learn more, click here.

THE RUBIN MUSEUM OF ART
Guided Public Tours 
Fri, Sat & Sun throughout the month of May

Explore Himalayan art and cultures during this engaging tour led by an expert docent. Through close looking at art and conversation, visitors gain greater insights into current exhibitions and the Rubin collection. Tour themes may include Mindfulness, Living Traditions, Stories of Migration, the Role of the Female, Tradition and Technology, and Environmental Sustainability, among others. Tours meet at 2:00 PM at the base of the spiral staircase and last approximately 45 minutes. No reservation required beyond regular admission ticket.

For upcoming dates and to learn more, click here.

Peace in Action: Living the Teachings of the Buddha
Saturday, May 18 from 1-3pm  

Join The Rubin in celebrating Saga Dawa and Vesak in collaboration with the Buddhist Council of New York. Saga Dawa and Vesak celebrate Buddha Shakyamuni’s birth, enlightenment, and mahaparinirvana, or passing away. Hosted by Tashi Chodron, Himalayan programs and communities ambassador at the Rubin, the afternoon of reflection will feature Buddhist teachers from a variety of dharma centers leading chants, prayers, rituals, and dharma talks.

To register and learn more, click here.

Lie Sang Bong (Korean, b. 1954), Dress, Fall 2008, 2008, wool; Courtesy of LIE SANGBONG © LIE SANGBONG; Photo courtesy of LIE SANGBONG

Zoom Lunchtime Lecture
Korean Couture and Its Legacy
Tuesday, May 7,  12-1pm
Free Registration

Join The Cleveland Museum of Art for their upcoming Zoom Lunchtime Lecture, Korean Couture and Its Legacy on Tuesday, May 7th!

In conjunction with their newly opened exhibition,  Korean Couture: Generations of Revolution, the first show on Korean fashion at the CMA, the exhibition’s co-curators, Sooa McCormick, Korea Foundation Curator of Korean Art, and Darnell-Jamal Lisby, assistant curator of fashion, introduce the dynamic, innovative trajectory of Korean style from 17th-century aristocratic clothing to contemporary couture by South Korean trailblazing fashion designers who are shaping fashion’s future.

Korean Couture and Its Legacy is part of the museum’s Lunchtime Lecture Series held every first Tuesday of each month where curators, conservators, scholars, and other museum staff offer their insights and expertise on objects currently on display in the museum galleries.

To learn more and register for free, click here.

Courtesy The Korea Society

Home/Away: Heejung Cho, Simpson Kim, Jian Yoo
May 2 – July 31, 2024
By Appointment Only

How can a Korean artist—however one identifies as such—shape their own narrative in this fast changing, global environment? Educated, living, and working in both the United States and South Korea, three Korean artists ponder what home means to them by exploring the landscape surrounding them. Working in three distinctive media—sculpture, photography, and contemporary mother-of-pearl art—this group of young artists represent the international experience and diversity within the new generation of Korean artists and the fluid definition of one’s identity and home in the age of intercontinental living.

To learn more about each artist, click here.

To visit The Korea Society Gallery, please make an appointment at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled visit by contacting [email protected]

©Whanki Foundation·Whanki Museum

Whanki in New York
May 2nd – June 13th, 2024
Opening Reception: Thursday, May 2, 6-8 pm (kindly RSVP) 

The Korean Cultural Center New York is proud to present a special exhibition, Whanki in New York, commemorating the pivotal years of pioneering abstract artist Kim Whanki (1913-1974), who established his artistic legacy during his transformative time in New York. This exhibition pays tribute to his profound impact on abstract art 50 years after his passing.

This retrospective is uniquely significant in that it not only features 27 original artworks on loan from the Whanki Museum but also, for the first time, showcases private collections from New York acquaintances of Kim Whanki and his wife. Moreover, LG Electronics presents five digital artworks that reinterpret Kim’s creative universe through cutting-edge technology. These innovative pieces, crafted by emerging media artists using LG OLED screens as their medium, include crucial works from his New York period in the 1970s.

This exhibition delves deeply into Kim Whanki’s New York era, showcasing not only his artworks but also personal items such as diaries, photographs, and letters that offer a glimpse into his creative process. Specifically focusing on his works on paper—selected by the Whanki Museum as representative of his artistic breadth—the exhibit highlights his experimentations with different mediums such as The New York Times and traditional Korean hanji paper and underscores his meticulous efforts that defined his legacy. This retrospective serves as a meaningful reminder of Kim Whanki’s status as an undisputed trailblazer of Korean abstract art, reconnecting audiences with his legacy half a century after his final days in New York.

In the spirit of Kim’s own reflections, as noted in his diary from July 2, 1968, this exhibition encourages viewers to approach his works with new perspectives: “An artist must always be wary of being trapped by conventional views. One should always approach their work with fresh eyes, as if seeing it for the first time.” KCCNY invites audiences to experience the enduring resonance of his artistic spirit and rediscover his contributions to the world of art, reflecting on the timeless nature of his creations and the ongoing influence they hold.

To RSVP to the opening and learn more, click here.

Portrait of a Woman, photographer in China, 1870s, albumen silver print

Dragon Women: Early Chinese Photography
Through May 15, 2024
10 W. 18th Street, 7th Floor Penthouse
By appointment only: 646-838-4576 or 410-602-3002

We start this week highlighting the Loewentheil Photography of China Collection and their fascinating exhibition, Dragon Women: Early Chinese Photography, currently on view until the 15th of May.

Curated by Stacey Lambrow, this is the first exhibition devoted to the depiction of Chinese women in early photography. The over 50 photographs selected from the Loewentheil Collection include the first photographic portraits of Chinese women, most made in the 1860s and 1870s with many never before shown. The exhibition examines women’s place in society in the late Qing dynasty and their depiction in historical photography of China. It also presents work by the few known early female photographers of China.

Highlights include a rare photograph by the first known Chinese female photographer, Mae Linda Talbot, and works by Hedda Morrison, Isabella Bird, and Eva Sandberg Xiao. Masterworks include photographs by Chinese and international artists such as Sze Yuen Ming Studio, Pun Lun Studio, A Chan Studio, Lai Fong, John Thomson, and Thomas Child. The exhibition showcases the diversity of Chinese women and their experiences during the final decades of imperial China.

Be sure to visit the show before it closes in a few weeks!

To learn more, click here.

Superb Pair of Famille Verte Porcelain Plates, Kangxi period, AD 1662-1722, Diameter: 15 ¼ in. (39 cm)

The Philadelphia Show
April 26 – 28, 2024
Friday, 11am-7pm; Saturday, 11am-6pm; Sunday 11am-5pm
East Terrace of the Philadelphia Museum of Art

As a participant for almost 20 years, Ralph M. Chait Galleries are pleased to return to the Philadelphia Show happening today and throughout this weekend!

They will bring a fine variety of Chinese porcelains and works art, including monochrome porcelains of varying forms across the palette, and notably some examples of the rare and restricted Imperial Yellow. The gallery will also be showing many recently acquired objects and some coming from their collection years back presenting an opportunity to reconnect, and bringing the past and present together in many ways.

The Philadelphia Show, held annually on the East Terrace of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, showcases an outstanding selection of collectible antiques, art and design presented by over forty of America’s leading dealers. Learn more about the joy of collecting through educational dealer talks, show tours or take part in a self-guided treasure hunt. Come experience the amazing array of fine art, Americana, furniture, folk art, ceramics, porcelain, silver, jewelry, textiles, decorative arts, and feel the thrill of the hunt.

As always, Ralph M. Chait Galleries look forward to welcoming you to their booth and are always delighted to hear from you.

To purchase tickets and learn more about the Philadelphia Show, click here.

Selection of jars, vases, and vessels from Kim Hono’s forthcoming collection

Enchanted Objects: Kim Hono Solo Exhibition
Online and In-Person
May 2 – 16, 2024

Dai Ichi Arts is thrilled to present Enchanted Objects: Kim Hono Solo Exhibition next month. The show marks Kim’s return to New York with a new series of ceramic works.

Kim Hono has crafted enchanting ceramic objects that yield a compelling formula of joy, humor, abstraction and play. He now presides over a riotous and beloved body of work – which now spans over 5 decades – which offers a window into his remarkable professional journey as both contemporary studio potter and artist.

To view the online exhibition catalogue on Issuu, click here.

To learn more about the exhibition, click here.

Julie W. Chang (b. 1976), Lokhandaum, 2023, acrylic and resin on panel, 29.8 x 29.8 x 3.8cm; Forthcoming Light, Space and Time exhibition

There is still time to view Alisan Fine Arts’ two exhibitions, Lui Shou-Kwan: Shifting Landscapes and Landscape as Metaphor: Contemporary Voices, before they close this Saturday, April 27th!

Also mark your calendars for their upcoming Spring exhibit, Light, Space and Time, opening on May 2nd with an evening reception from 5 to 8pm!

Light, Space and Time
May 2 – June 22, 2024
Opening Reception: Thursday, May 2, 5-8pm

Light, Space and Time is a group exhibition featuring the work of California-based Asian American visual artists Julie W Chang, Summer Mei-Ling Lee and Zhang Jian-Jun. Influenced by the Californian coast and the Light and Space movement, Chang, Lee and Zhang approach light and space through a different lens and additional dimension. Informed by historical-cultural perspectives, their practices add a “time” element to the works in the exhibition to explore how the personal and historical affect the environment and our perception.

This group show opens at the beginning of May, in correlation with Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. AAPI month recognizes the contributions and influence of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans to the history, culture and achievements of the United States.

To learn more, click here.

Matsui Kōsei (1927-2003), Large broad-waisted Neriage vessel, 1989, marbleized stoneware, 13 x 14 1/2 in., (12860)

Layered Clay
May 1 – June 21, 2024

“Vibrantly colored layered clays are used to such an extent…that the conventional, narrow view of neriage has been shattered” said Hasebe Mitsuhiko former curator of the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, 1990 when speaking of the layered clay works of modern-day Japanese ceramic artists. Their use of the painstaking technique of cutting, forming, and shaping layers of colored clay to form their visually mesmerizing ceramics has often been likened to creating three-dimensional mind games. This ancient technique, known as neriage or nerikomi originated in 8th century China, spread to Korea in the 12th century then to England in the 18th century before coming to its pinnacle in modern-day Japan.

This spring, Joan B Mirviss LTD celebrates the extraordinary achievements of three past masters who revitalized this ancient technique and creatively expanded the seemingly simple idea of building clay upon clay: Matsui Kōsei, Miyashita Zenji, and Ogata Kamio. Their artistry was impossible to achieve without their equally astonishing technical skills. Developed steadily over time, with patience and experimentation, their deft manipulation of clay enabled them each in their own ways to achieve dazzling color contrasts, unexpected surface effects, and gradations of textures and colors that complemented their vessels’ forms. Many of their artworks have been acquired directly from the estates of the artists, with the blessings of their families, and are obviously fresh to the market. In addition, work by seven other Japanese ceramic artists who were contemporaries of, or successors to, their innovative legacies will be displayed in Layered Clay.

To learn more, click here.