What's Happening in Asian Art...
August 28, 2018
From September 7–15, it's September 2018 Asia Week in New York. Several of our regular dealer participants are open to the public, showcasing traditional and contemporary examples of the best of Asian painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography and more. Think of it as a teaser for the March 2019 edition of Asia Week New York! Here's our guide to the exhibitions on view. Many shows remain open past September 15—please check each listing below for details.
HIRUMA Kazuyo 昼馬和代(1947- )
Soaring 飛翔
2013
H16.5” x D8.6” x W22.5”, H42 x D22 xW57cm
Stoneware
Dai Ichi Arts, Ltd. is presenting the work of contemporary Japanese ceramic artist HIRUMA Kazuyo 昼馬和代, which will be the first time her award-winning ceramics are shown in New York. "HIRUMA Kazuyo: Memories of Water and Earth" will feature a series of works that highlight Hiruma’s investigation of how memory and erosion come forth in aquatic and terrestrial forms. Ceramic sculptures depicting water and earth inspire nuanced explorations of how these two natural forces interact with time. The works presented are fastidiously constructed yet remain anchored in natural phenomena. Hiruma layers thin sheets of clay horizontally or vertically to create each work, finally glazing and firing the ceramic after spending a month or two building it. The exhibition is on view September 7–21 from 10am to 5pm, at 18 East 64th Street, #1F.
Qiu Mai (Michael Cherney, b. 1969)
Shadow Curtains #9A:A Tang-dynasty Gingko
Photography; ink on mitsumata paper
Four-panel folding screen
Kaikodo's exhibition "The Bountiful Tang" features a photographic portrait of a stunning ancient tree, a gingko planted in China during the 7th century in the early Tang dynasty (618-907), which explodes into breathtaking fall foliage yet today. Michael Cherney, whose work Kaikodo has carried for nearly a decade, felt this particular photo image to be an artistic breakthrough and Kaikodo saw the opportunity to exhibit works of art that were produced contemporaneously during this golden age of Chinese art and literature. Tang-dynasty ceramics, metalwork and sculpture, along with later paintings inspired by Tang styles and subject matter, join the portrait of the tree to celebrate this extraordinary time. The exhibition will be available online and will be on view in the gallery from September 8 to November 9, at 74 East 79th Street, #14B.
Peter Hamann
Blue-White Porcelain Box with Bamboo Pattern
2015
Porcelain
h. 9 1/4 x dia. 13 in. (23.5 x 33 cm)
Onishi Gallery presents "Carving White Translucence: Peter Hamann," a solo exhibition of leading ceramic artist Peter Hamann. Born in Nebraska in 1956, Hamann moved to Japan as a young adult to study Yabunouchi-style tea ceremony. His passion for Japanese culture led him to stay in Japan and pursue the ceramic arts, ultimately enabling him to teach Japanese ceremonial tea techniques and gain his Japanese citizenship. This exhibition showcases the stunning and innovative ceramic pieces that Hamann has refined over the decades, uniquely drawing upon his American roots and Japanese aesthetics. The show is open September 6–22, Tuesday through Saturday from 11am to 6pm, at 521 West 26th Street. An additional exhibition of photography by Koshu Endo entitled "Faces of the Moon" will be on view September 11–22.
Hai Ja Bang (b.1937)
Untitled
1991
Mixed media
35.8 x 29.5 in. (91 x 75 cm)
HK Art and Antiques LLC presents the “Life of Women," an exhibition of work by female artists from both East and West. There are three Korean artists, one British artist and one Scottish artist: Hai Ja Bang, Su Kwak, Elizabeth Keith, Tricia Wright, and Myong Hi Kim. These artists, whose work ranges from the figurative to the abstract, use different techniques and materials. In addition to the paintings, there are two Korean 20th century Bojagi (traditional Korean wrapping cloth) on view. The exhibition will be held September 7-18, 11:00am-5:30pm, Saturday and Sunday by appointment only at 49 East 78th Street, Suite 4B.
Sueharu Fukami (b. 1947)
Ko (Splendid Solitude)
2018
Pressure-slip-cast porcelain with pale-blue glaze, on granite base
H 70 in. (177 cm)
Erik Thomsen Gallery presents an exhibition of porcelain sculptures by Sueharu Fukami (b. 1947), who is widely regarded as one of the greatest ceramic artists of the last forty years. The show will feature around twenty porcelain works with pale-blue glazes created between 1980 and 2018, including two larger scale vertical works, Kei from 2015 and Kō (Splendid Solitude) from 2018, and a true tour-de-force titled Ten (Firmament) from 2013, a wheel-thrown vessel of imposing proportions. The show will also include smaller works, such as vases and incense boxes. The exhibition opens September 10 and runs through November 2 at 23 East 67th Street, 4th Floor. Opening hours are Monday-Friday, 11am–5pm.
Myungwon Kim
Untitled 06
2014
Dry pigment, ink & acrylic paint on Mylar
50 x 40 inches (127 x 101.6 cm)
Kai Gallery presents a group exhibition by nine contemporary artists, including Jared FitzGerald, Han Bing, Min Yiming, Beili Liu, Zhou Rong, Hui Chi Lee, Soon Sik Kim, Gan Daofu, and Myungwon Kim. Aligning with KAI Gallery’s mission, these artists view traditional East Asian culture as a continuous source of inspiration to their artistic creations. Featured above is Myungwon Kim’s Color Study series, which invites viewers to experience not only visual sensations but also physical engagement. In her work, Kim applies her training in printmaking, using its processes, techniques, and materials to create her large-scale gestural works, and implicating her body in the process.
Ranging from Han Bing’s environmentally conscious photographs to Jared FitzGerald’s pioneering porcelain panel paintings, the works in the exhibition continue a dialogue between tradition and innovation. This group exhibition generates discussions of our world in the past, present, and future. The exhibition will be on view September 7–15 at 78 Grand Street. The gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm.
Kokutani Square Plate
Mid 1600’s, Japan
21 x 21 cm
Zetterquist Galleries will be holding an informal exhibition of Chinese and Japanese Ceramics during September Asia Week. This exhibition features a rare mid-17th century Kokutani plate with notched square form and a masterful painting of a Peacock standing on a rock, surrounded by water. Other works include a large Bizen Horn-shaped wall vase and Chinese Tang Dynasty - Yuan Dynasty ceramics. Open September 10–14 at 3 East 66th Street, #1B.
Vajrapani 金刚手菩萨
12th Century
Gilt Bronze
Tibet
18 5/8 in. (47.4 cm)
Kapoor Galleries is presenting a group of Indian and Himalayan art during September Asia Week. One of the highlights is this outstanding large and richly gilded Vajrapani bronze. Dated to the 12th century, this sculpture is a rare early image of Vajrapani of majestic size and naturalistic detail of the highest quality. It is one of a group of three which are very closely matched in style, iconography and size. The other two are a Vajrasattva and a Maitreya held in the British Museum and the Cleveland Museum of Art respectively. Other works include an illustration to the Bhagavata Purana: The Liberation of Nalakuvara and Manigriva, attributed to Manaku, and a 15th century Ngor Mandala. Open September 10–14 from 11am to 5pm, at 34 East 67th Street, Floor 3.
Kobayashi Kiyochika (1868-1912)
Fireworks at Ikenohata
1881
Woodblock print
9 ¼ by 14 in., 23.5 by 35.7 cm
Scholten Japanese Art's exhibition "KIYOCHIKA: On the Threshold of Modern Times" features a selection of woodblock prints by the influential Meiji-period (1868-1912) self-taught artist, Kobayashi Kiyochika (1847-1915). Born Kobayashi Katsunosuke, Kiyochika was the ninth and last child of a samurai retainer with a hereditary position at a rice granary located on the eastern bank of the Sumida River in the city of Edo. His mother’s family were also of samurai rank and operated a similar granary on the opposite side of the river. While the financial stipends for both families were likely modest, as members of the samurai class they would have enjoyed social status and surely pride in their heritage. In January of 1868, at the age of nineteen, Kiyochika fought for the last shogun in his doomed battle against the Choshu clan in Osaka. He followed the defeated shogun to Shizuoka and managed to support himself as a performer in traveling fencing shows for a few years. Eventually, Kiyochika returned to Edo (by then, renamed Tokyo) in 1874 and began pursuing an artistic career.
By his own account, he never formally trained with any master or school, although his own self-proclaimed influences were those of the ukiyo-e artists. Ironically, although his birthright as a samurai was obliterated due to the elimination of the shogunate which crumbled under pressures from foreign powers forcing Japan to open up to trade, in his artistic pursuits Kiyochika embraced foreign influences. He blended his interpretation of the ukiyo-e school with Western-style perspective and realism. Unhindered by formal training within any artistic lineage, Kiyochika’s innovative style helped pave the way for a new outlook on the genre which would be picked up by future print artists, particularly the artists and publishers associated with the shin hanga (‘new print’) movement. The exhibition runs September 7–15, 11am-5pm (otherwise by appointment), at 145 West 58th Street, Suite 6D.
Koike Shōko
White Form
2017
Glazed stoneware
20 1/2 x 15 3/3 inches
Joan B Mirviss LTD is featuring the work of Koike Shōko in September and October with "Shifting Rhythms: The Sculpted Moments of Koike Shōko," the gifted artist’s third solo exhibition at the gallery. Koike has always taken inspiration from the hues of blue created by the sky reflecting off the sea. Early in her career, she began to add glass flakes to her glazes creating a blue “pool” through which she incised shell-like forms. She next gave those “shells” dimensionality by sculpting them in clay. These shell-like shapes, coupled with the puddled blue glaze in shades ranging from Persian blue, to turquoise, to the most recent cerulean, serve as the conceptual foundation for her clay works. While their spiral forms occur in nature, the centrifugal force generated by Koike when using the potter’s wheel to create them evokes for her the rhythms of the universe beyond simply those of the ocean. The clay cores thrown on the wheel then serve as the base for further hand-building and glazing, which ultimately results in pleated, dancing vessels bursting with energy. “First I imagine the shape that dances a certain pulsating rhythm, which then extends to my hands and leads them to weave a form from the mound of clay before me," explained the artist in 2009. "Shifting Rhythms" runs September 11 through October 19, at 39 East 78th Street, 4th floor. The gallery is open Monday through Friday, from 11am to 6pm, with additional opening hours on Saturday, September 8, from 11am-5pm, and Sunday, September 9, from 11am-4pm.
August 28, 2018
Christie's Highlight — The Xining Gujian, catalogued 'Zuo Bao Yi Gui,' a highly important and extremely rare bronze ritual four-legged food vessel from the early Western Zhou dynasty, 11th-10th century B.C.
Our regular auction house partners are holding auctions and viewings during September 2018 Asia Week, from September 7–15. We have compiled a listing of all the sales for your convenience:
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
10am - ASIAN WORKS OF ART at Doyle
10am – CHINESE WORKS OF ART AND PAINTINGS at Bonhams
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
10am - FINE CHINESE PAINTINGS at Christie's
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12
10am - ANCIENT SKILLS, NEW WORLDS - TWENTY TREASURES OF JAPANESE METALWORK FROM A PRIVATE COLLECTION at Bonhams
10am – JUNKUNC: CHINESE BUDDHIST SCULPTURE at Sotheby's
10am - SOUTH ASIAN MODERN + CONTEMPORARY ART at Christie's
10am - THE RUTH AND CARL BARRON COLLECTION OF FINE CHINESE SNUFF BOTTLES: PART VI at Christie's
10:30 am - IMPORTANT CHINESE ART at Sotheby's
1pm – FINE JAPANESE AND KOREAN ART at Bonhams
2pm - IMPORTANT CHINESE ART at Sotheby's
2pm - INDIAN, HIMALAYAN AND SOUTHEAST ASIAN WORKS OF ART at Christie's
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
10am - THE TANG HUNG AND FUNG BI-CHE COLLECTION OF CHINESE PAINTINGS & CALLIGRAPHY at Sotheby's
10am - MASTERPIECES OF CIZHOU WARE: THE LINYUSHANREN COLLECTION, PART IV at Christie's
11am - QIANLONG'S PRECIOUS VESSEL: THE ZUO BAO YI GUI at Christie's
11:15am - FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART at Christie's
11:30am - FINE CLASSICAL CHINESE PAINTINGS & CALLIGRAPHY at Sotheby's
2pm – FINE CLASSICAL CHINESE PAINTINGS & CALLIGRAPHY at Sotheby's
2pm - FINE CHINESE JADE CARVINGS FROM PRIVATE COLLECTIONS at Christie's
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
10am & 2pm - FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART at Christie's
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
10am - SATURDAY AT SOTHEBY'S: ASIAN ART
Bonhams Highlight: Rare wood figure of Kichijoten (detail), Japan, Kamakura Period, 13th-14th century
Doyle Highlight: Pair of Chinese jade covered vases
Sotheby's Highlight - Detail of Wang Yuanqi's 'Landscape of Yushan' hanging scroll
August 13, 2018
As we look towards Asia Week New York's tenth anniversary in March 2019, we're also taking a look back at the event's most memorable works of art. This is part 3 of a multi-part series in which we are showcasing the most important objects sold by our participants over the last decade. Check back here often or subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated. Below, the stories of four incredible objects:
A SILK PORTRAIT FROM ALAN KENNEDY
A rare portrait on silk was acquired by a museum from Alan Kennedy during Asia Week New York in 2016. This painting will soon be exhibited in a major exhibition entitled, "Empresses of China's Forbidden City." The exhibition opens at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts on August 18th, and will travel to the Freer/Sackler Museum in Washington, DC.
The painting depicts the Empress Dowager Cixi (1835-1908) in the guise of Guanyin, the Buddhist bodhisattva sometimes referred to as the Goddess of Mercy. It was painted by a court artist in the Forbidden City, and was created at the request of an American missionary named Reverend Issac Taylor Headland. His wife was a physician who treated several of the women in Cixi's entourage.
One of the unique aspects of the portrait is that it depicts the face of the Empress Dowager in a realistic manner, without hiding the effects of age. Other paintings of her show Cixi in a more idealized manner, looking younger than her actual years. The Empress Dowager would not have been pleased if she had seen this portrait.The painting was reproduced in a book by Reverend Headland (Court Life in China, 1909), and he described the unusual circumstances behind the making of the painting. The portrait remained in the possession of his descendants until recent times, and will now be seen by the many visitors to the upcoming museum exhibitions.
RUNJEET SINGH'S BEJEWELLED DAGGER
Bejewelled dagger
17th-18th century
Turkey/India
This wonderful Khanjar or Jambiya dagger is of almost identical form to a well-known example in the Dresden Armoury (Rustkammer, Staaliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden), Inv. No. Y143, illustrated in Holger Schuckelt, The Turkish Chamber (2010), p124-5, which was captured as booty at Varna by the Russians in 1828, and presented to Prince Carl of Prussia by Tsar Nicholas I.
This example, with a similar pale nephrite jade hilt and scabbard mounts, has more complex and abundant decoration with large flower heads and fruits in groupings of cabochon rubies, and leaves with cabochon emeralds. The base of the hilt features a row of small rubies and larger emeralds of ascending size, and the apex of the pommel has a double row of rubies terminating with green emerald tendrils on each side. The stones are all set in the ottoman style, secured within silver gilt shaped collets and straps in imitation of Indian kundan work.
On the wavy snake-like blade of watered steel, traces of gold decoration remain at the forte as well as a gold border along the edges. The original wooden scabbard, recovered in its later life, is fitted with original throat piece and chape of matching jade.
The dagger was sold by Runjeet Singh to a private collector during Asia Week New York 2018.
A PAIR OF CERAMIC CHAIRS AT DAI ICHI ARTS
SUZUKI Goro 鈴木五郎 (1941- )
Left: Los Angeles Oribe Chair ‒Foot- ロス織部 椅子 ( 座面に足 ) H18.8” x W10.2” x D9.4”, Stoneware
Right: Los Angeles Oribe Chair ‒Mt. Fuji- ロス織部 椅子 ( 富士山 ) H19.4” x W10.8” x D10.2”, Stoneware
From Dai Ichi Arts: "This is a pair of ceramic chairs created by our artist SUZUKI Goro (1941- ) who is pushing his own limits in the pursuit of his art. He combines his skills in throwing and building with a lifetime's knowledge of material. You can truly say that he was born in clay and plays in clay. This pair was exhibited in our window during Asia Week New York 2018, and they attracted many people's attention with their playful and whimsical form and design. Both chairs were sold to a private collector who admires Suzuki's work."
A SYMBOLIC UNION AT KAPOOR GALLERIES
Radha and Krishna Intertwined, Folio from the Kangra 1775 Gita Govinda
The Kangra 1775 Gita Govinda is seen by scholars and connoisseurs alike as the most profound illustration of Jayadeva’s Gita Govinda, which translates as “Song of Dark Lord”. Created in the late 12th century, Jayadeva’s Gita Govinda is a monumental work of literature from Indian culture. Superficially it portrays the ageless story of the arduous love between man and woman, it is also an allegory for the love of god. The Gita Govinda is the only example of miniature painting in which such a vast illustration of romantic encounters is explored.
In this image, the passionate lovemaking and climactic union of Radha, a symbol of the “goddess”, and Krishna, the love of god, is depicted with full emotion. Radha has boldly and confidently aligned herself directly atop Krishna in order to control the lovemaking, which represents the transcendent union of humans with the Divine, forgetting about ego and dissolving in supreme ecstasy.
This folio was sold at Kapoor Galleries during Asia Week New York 2016 to a private European collection.
July 16, 2018
As we look towards Asia Week New York's tenth anniversary in March 2019, we're also taking a look back at the event's most memorable works of art. This is part 2 of a multi-part series in which we will be showcasing the most important objects sold by our participants over the last decade. Check back here often or subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated. Below, the stories of four incredible objects:
GIUSEPPE PIVA'S RARE SAMURAI ARMOR
An exceptional samurai armor from the Inaba clan
Mid Edo period (1615 - 1867), 18th century
Helmet signed: “Masuda Myochin Minbu Ki no Munesada Saku” and dated: "A lucky day in February in the 7th year of Horyaku" (1757)
Provenance: Iyo no kami Inaba clan
The helmet is made in the style of a Kamakura period kabuto, with an 18 plates rounded bowl showing large protruding rivets. The exquisite parcel giltwood front decoration is shaped as a shachihoko, a mythical creature often represented as protection against fire. The neck guard is covered with a rare horsehair red and white decoration. The cuirass is richly decorated in maki-e lacquer over a black ground, with a red figure of Raijin—the god of Thunder—creating a storm beating his drums among clouds. The same black lacquer is used to cover all the other armor’s parts, except for the helmet’s bowl.
The Inaba family originated in 16th century Mino Province; during the Edo period, as hereditary vassals of the Tokugawa, the clan was classified fudai and its members were appointed daimyō of large and strategic provinces; they also covered various important administrative, political and military roles. Myochin Munesada, who signed and dated the kabuto, is reported to be son of the famous Muneakira; his works are very rare.
The armor was sold by dealer Giuseppe Piva during Asia Week New York 2016 to a private European collector.
A SONG WITHOUT A SOUND AT M. SUTHERLAND FINE ARTS
Jia Youfu
A Song Without a Sound
2007
Ink on Xuan paper
33.5 x 63 inches
Dealer Martha Sutherland shares some vivid memories below:
I first saw this piece in Jia You Fu’s studio outside of Beijing one hot, sultry summer day. It was one of only several “da hua” that Jia painted over the previous winter. He usually kept one or two very large scale paintings and then did several more slightly smaller versions on a similar theme.
“Song without a Sound” stopped me in my tracks when I entered the studio. Painted only in ink and ink wash with no colored mineral pigments, the composition is like a vortex, spinning within the rocky precipices of a Northwestern Chinese mountainscape, as if you were hypnotized and lured into the scene. The more one studies the brushwork, the more one is amazed at the artist’s control of the layers of ink washes and brushwork.
A new client walked into my gallery during Asia Week New York. Having done his homework, he requested a private appointment for a more relaxed and intimate look at other Jia Youfu pieces in the inventory several weeks hence. When he saw “Song Without a Sound” for the first time, he reacted much like I did in Beijing. I knew then that he would buy it.
M. Sutherland Fine Arts is lucky to still have a handful of pieces by Jia in our inventory. Each year, Asia Week New York turns out more new serious collectors who come to New York from throughout the States, Europe and Asia.
THREE GIANTS AT JOAN B. MIRVISS LTD
Kamoda Shōji (1933-1983)
Slightly flattened ovoid vessel with blue enamel decoration and striped matte black ground
1977
Glazed stoneware
12 1/4 x 9 1/2 x 7 in.
31.3 x 24.5 x 18.3 cm.
Photo by Richard Goodbody
Trevor H. Menders, during an internship at Joan B. Mirviss Ltd, reflected on the gallery's seminal Asia Week New York 2018 exhibition:
Asia Week New York 2018 witnessed contemporary Japanese clay assuming its rightful place as fine art in the American public eye. The transformative 20th-century Japanese ceramists Kamoda Shōji, Matsui Kōsei, and Wada Morihiro featured in our exhibition Three Giants of the North each appeared by both name and image in numerous publications. While these appearances were significant, the biggest victory for the entire field of modern Japanese ceramics comprised two New York Times articles: “Asia Week’s Rare and Unusual Objects for Art Lovers and Collectors” and “21 Art Exhibitions to view in NYC This Weekend.”
In the first, only three works were illustrated: the National Treasure 17th-century screens of Pines by Hasegawa Tōhaku [Japan Society], the second an ancient Tibetan mandala [Asia Society], but the third prominently featured a stoneware vessel by Kamoda Shōji from Three Giants. Modern ceramics were clearly equated with benchmark master paintings from the bygone eras. For us, this was a transformative moment for both East and West.
The second NYT article stated: “the work ranges from religious statuary to textiles, prints and paintings. The collection of ceramics by the excellent 20th-century potter Kamoda Shōji at Joan B. Mirviss is a notable highlight.” Giants appeared as the second exhibition listed, directly following a discussion of a show on modern Brazilian art at MoMA. The same stoneware vessel by Kamoda appeared at the top of the page.
The appearance of works by 20th century Japanese clay artists next to the likes of Momoyama period folding screens or Latin American modernist pioneers has always been an aspiration for us, but never an expectation. Introducing Japanese ceramics to the West has been a process spanning four decades. Having a luminary of modern ceramics appear on the same page as a major MoMA exhibition in the New York Times marks a coming to fruition of this challenge, and a triumphant start to the gallery’s fifth decade.
A VESSEL-SHAPED TABLE AT NICHOLAS GRINDLEY
A jichimu table in the form of an archaic fang ding
China, probably Daoguang (1821-1850)
Jichimu wood
33 3/4 x 63 5/8 x 19 1/2 in
(85.7 x 161.6 x 49.5 cm)
Rebecca Gardner, manager at Nicholas Grindley Works of Art, writes:
The most unusual item we have shown during the 10 years we've participated in Asia Week New York was the archaic-form table we exhibited in March 2017. This attracted attention from both furniture enthusiasts and archaic bronze collectors alike.
The table, made from jichimu, was in the form of an archaic fang ding, a bronze ceremonial vessel, but was constructed during the Qing dynasty—probably Daoguang 1821-1850. Before we acquired this table, only two other examples of tables of this archaic fang ding form were published, and these might well have been the same table, although the dimensions vary in the two publications. The first was in the catalogue of the Guanfu Museum, Beijing, page 75. The Guanfu Museum is a non-profit museum in the PRC with its main location in Beijing; Ma Wei-Du is the founder and director of the museum. The second was published in Tian Jiaqing’s ‘Classic Chinese Furniture of the Qing Dynasty’ no. 90, page 200, where it is attributed to “Antique Shop, Beijing."
We sold our table to a prominent private collector, who in turn lent it to the Art Institute of Chicago for their exhibition early in 2018, Mirroring China’s Past: Emperors and Their Bronzes.
June 27, 2018
As we look towards Asia Week New York's tenth anniversary in March 2019, we're also taking a look back at the event's most memorable works of art. This is part 1 of a multi-part series in which we will be showcasing the most important objects sold by our participants over the last decade. Check back here often or subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated. To start, scroll down to read the accounts of three of our participating dealers:
ONISHI GALLERY'S "RING OF FLOWERS"
Tokuda Yasokichi III (1933-2009), Living National Treasure
Plate Rinka (Ring of Flowers)
2000
Porcelain with vivid colored glazes (yôsai)
h. 4 x dia. 22 inches
This stunning, vividly colored porcelain piece "Ring of Flowers" by Japanese Living National Treasure Tokuda Yasokokichi III was exhibited at Onishi Gallery during Asia Week New York 2013 and was acquired by The Metropolitan Museum of Art through the William R. Appleby Fund. It is now on view at the Met in the Contemporary Japanese Ceramics gallery.
INTRICATE GOLD EARRINGS AT SUSAN OLLEMANS
A large pair of gold filigree drop earrings from the Silla Period, 6th Century, Korea. Length: 8.7 cm.
Gold earrings were worn by both men and women of the Silla and Gaya elite, and are the most prevalent type of jewelry found in tombs. Goldsmith techniques on display here range from simple hammering to the more complex method of granulation, in which tiny gold beads were adhered to the surface to create intricate designs.
The earrings were sold to the Brooklyn Museum of Art in 2013. Similar examples exist in the collections of the National Museum of Korea in Seoul, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
A DECCANI MINIATURE AT OLIVER FORGE & BRENDAN LYNCH
An Illustration to a Romance Written in Deccani Urdu, the Gulshan-i 'Ishq (Rose Garden of Love) by Nusrati, Court Poet to Sultan 'Ali Adil Shah II of Bijapur (r.1656-72 A.D.):
Angels descend from the heavens to visit a princess
Deccan, India, circa 1700-20
Opaque watercolour on paper heightened with gold and silver
Miniature: 22.3 by 14.4 cm.; 8 ¾ by 5 5/8 in.
Page 39.5 by 23.5 cm.; 15 ½ by 9 ¼ in.
"This painting was bought by an English collector, Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy Lloyd, one of seven offered at Christie’s in 1979," explain the dealers. "In 2010 the Lloyds asked us to sell their collection and, via our Asia Week New York 2011 catalogue, we were able to establish not only the great significance of the manuscript from which the painting comes, but that of this particular painting."
The unique design and palette of this evocative Deccan night-scene painting dramatically contrast the cascade of colour heralding the descent of the angels with the monochrome world of the cool, silent, moonlight-suffused palace. This is probably the finest page from what is unquestionably the finest Deccani manuscript of the period, outstanding for its calligraphy, its superb technical accomplishment and its poetical fantasy. The unpublished colophon (Christie’s, 1979) notes that the work was written by an unnamed author who ‘lived during the reign of ‘Ali ‘Adil Shahi, under whom I grew prosperous’. This would be ‘Ali ‘Adil Shah II of Bijapur (b. 1637) who ruled 1656-72 A.D., although there was no indication of a royal patron for the manuscript.
The painting was acquired by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is currently on view in their Islamic Art galleries.
March 21, 2018
For the second consecutive year, a snowstorm has befallen New York City during Asia Week New York—and once again, our fearless dealers opened their doors despite the inclement weather. Here are a few photos they've shared throughout the day!
Suneet Kapoor (left) and Carol Conover of Kaikodo LLC, undeterred by the snow.
BachmannEckenstein | JapaneseArt even decided to offer discounts today—1% off for every inch of snow! And lucky for you, they will be open an additional day tomorrow as their flight back to Switzerland has been delayed.
Lastly, to make sure Scholten Japanese Art remains open, director Katherine Martin is camping out at the gallery during the storm, surrounded by handsome kabuki actors.
March 18, 2018
Above: people and paintings at the opening party for Kaikodo LLC's exhibition "Parallel Lives."
As the sun sets on Day 4 of our 2018 edition, let's take a moment to reflect on these opening days as we gear up for another busy week ahead. Below is a selection of photos taken in and around the galleries.
Asia Week New York got off to a festive start with a cocktail reception hosted by Aman, our 2018 Presenting Sponsor, at the stunning Upper East side residence of interior designer Sandra Nunnerley. Read more about the evening here.
On Wednesday and Thursday, journalists previewed the artwork on offer during our annual press walk—a whirlwind tour of the 40+ gallery exhibitions. Above, a group shot taken at Dai Ichi Arts, Ltd.
James Lally of J. J. Lally & Co. presented his selection of ancient Chinese jade to the press.
On Friday evening, many dealers held opening receptions for their exhibitions. Above, the opening of "Chittaprosad, 1915–1978: A Retrospective" at DAG.
On Saturday and Sunday, all 45 dealers opened their doors to the public for our annual Open House Weekend. Above, the inviting setup at Findlay Galleries.
Our dealers are renowned Asian art specialists with a wealth of knowledge, and are always willing to strike up a conversation with visitors, be they budding enthusiasts or seasoned collectors. Above, Richard Waldman of the Art of Japan (left) and Andrew Kahane.
Competition among dealers can be fierce! Arms and armor specialist Runjeet Singh demonstrates his wares to fellow exhibitor Alexis Renard (rest assured, no one was harmed in the taking of this photo).
Despite relatively low temperatures over the weekend, visitors flocked to the galleries. Above, the well-insulated crowd at Onishi Gallery.
Most exhibitions remain open until March 24, so there's still plenty of time to discover what The New York Times called "Asia Week's rare and unusual objects." See you in the galleries!
March 16, 2018
Asia Week New York got off to a festive start with a cocktail reception hosted by Aman, the Presenting Sponsor of Asia Week New York, at the stunning Upper East side residence of interior designer Sandra Nunnerley. Dressed in their very colorful native garb, Aman general managers mingled with a crowd of collectors, interior designers, journalists, and their loyal Amanjunkies. The highlight of the evening was the surprise raffle that took place and three lucky winners were selected to discover one of the properties. Among the attendees were Ian White, Aman Indonesia; Tapa Tibble, Aman Sveti Stefan, John Reed, Amankora, Sven Van Den Broeck, Amanzoe, Yasuo Mizobuchi, Aman Japan, Donald Wong, Amantaka & Amansara,Serge Ditesheim, Amanyara, Nicolas Pillet, Amanoi. Also in the crowd were Geoffrey Bradfield, Ronald Bricke, James Andrews, Craig Manson, one of the winners of the raffle, Lark Mason, Alex Papachristidis, Philip Thomas, Edith Dicconson, Ritam Bhalla, Christina Prescott-Walker, and Christina Deeny, Marguita Kracht, and Jane Mackie who are part of the Aman marketing team.
Learn more about Aman here.
March 14, 2018
Above: Giuseppe Piva, from Milan, Italy, unpacking boxes and boxes of artwork.
Our dealers are hard at work installing their exhibitions and getting ready to open to the public on Thursday, March 15—take a look behind the scenes:
Unpacking boxes at Tai Modern...
...matting prints at Scholten Japanese Art...
....planning the layout at Findlay Galleries...
...making sure everything is level at Oliver Forge & Brendan Lynch Ltd...
...hanging artwork at Robert Kuo Ltd...
...carefully handling textiles at Alan Kennedy...
...multi-tasking at Tenzing Asian Art...
....installing lights at Michael Hughes LLC...
...working as a team at Kai Gallery...
...adjusting the spotlight on a Lee Ufan work at Littleton & Hennessy Asian Art...
...and setting up gorgeous flower arrangements at Dai Ichi Arts Ltd!
See you tomorrow in the galleries!
March 12, 2018
AMAN: CONNECTING PEOPLE TO THE SPIRIT OF A PLACE
Since 1988, Aman has been to its guests both a retreat and a step forward – an opportunity to cast aside quotidian distractions and explore the possibilities of a better, more nourished self. From untouched Indonesian islands to the heart of the world’s greatest cities, Aman’s 31 intimate sanctuaries invite guests out of their everyday lives and into a nurturing space for body, mind and spirit.
31 Extraordinary Destinations
Seek a shift
Ancient and modern healing principles converge in Aman Wellness – a chance to restore equilibrium and achieve lasting wellbeing. From the hammams of Morocco to the hot springs of Japan, begin a journey of reawakening. On an immersive retreat, allow yourself to be transformed, and unlock inner vitality with guidance from some of the world’s most renowned health specialists.
Become a pioneer
Cross new frontiers on multi-destination journeys by air and sea. Go beyond the usual itinerary through extended, customised trips that take you from one unique destination to another. From the lofty peaks of Bhutan to the breath-taking reefs surrounding Indonesia’s fabled spice islands, Aman seeks ways to make the world’s most remote destinations accessible, through exceptional, individually curated expeditions and adventures.
At home around the world
Available to own, Residences provide complete immersion in the Aman way of living. Created in partnership with some of the world’s most respected and visionary architects, the Residences offer their owners all the beauty, simplicity and personal attention of an Aman resort, balanced with the perfect seclusion of a private home in one of the world’s most remarkable locations.
Learn more at aman.com.
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