Richard Bell, Embassy, 2013–ongoing. 20th Biennale of Sydney, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney. Public program 9 March 2016. Museum of Contemporary Art Australia and Tate, with support from the Qantas Foundation in 2015, purchased 2017

In conjunction with their fall exhibition, Maḏayin: Eight Decades of Aboriginal Australian Bark Painting from Yirrkala, Asia Society is excited to present two upcoming events with artist Richard Bell. As a member of the Kamilaroi, Kooma, Jiman and Gurang Gurang communities, Bell has worked at the intersection of art and politics, advocating for Indigenous sovereignty through activism for over three decades. Don’t miss the chance to learn about how he uses his multimedia art practice to explore the complex artistic and political problems of Western, colonial and Indigenous art production.

Viewpoints: Art and Post-Colonial Activism
Conversation with Artist Richard Bell and Carin Kuoni
Friday, November 15, 2024, 6:30–8:30pm
Tickets: $30 Nonmembers; $20 Members; Discount for Seniors/Students

Can art have social impact? Through his multimedia art practice, Richard Bell has, for years, addressed the mainstream systemic colonialism that permeates Australian society, a reality that many First Nations people around the world continue to experience. In this conversation, Bell will be joined by Carin Kuoni, Senior Director and Chief Curator of Vera List Center for Art and Politics at the New School, to retrace his journey from activist to artist, and how his work and his role in the Aboriginal art community shapes the discourse on Indigenous and human rights in Australia and beyond.

To learn more and register, click here.

Richard Bell: Embassy at Asia Society
An Afternoon of conversations on Indigenous sovereignty, land rights, and arts education
Saturday, November 16, 2024, 12:30–6:00pm
Free Event

Asia Society is proud to present Richard Bell’s major work, Embassy (2013­–ongoing), an activated space for activism and dialogue in support of Aboriginal and Indigenous land rights. Created in 2013, it is inspired by the original Aboriginal Tent Embassy, which was pitched on the grounds of Canberra’s Parliament House in 1972 by four young activists. It has previously been presented at various locations around the world, including Tate Modern, London (2023); documenta fifteen, Kassel (2022); 20th Biennale of Sydney (2016); and Performa 15, New York (2015).

The Asia Society edition of Embassy features an afternoon of conversations joined by artists, scholars, and educators focusing on issues including Indigenous sovereignty, land rights, and arts education in Australia and North America.

To register and view the full schedule of events, click here.

(L): Image ©Odawara Art Foundation; (R): The earliest known depiction of a three-man puppet, from the ukiyozōshi novel Tōsei shibai katagi of 1777, depicting a scene from the jōruri puppet play Ranjatai nitta keizu by Chikamatsu Hanji, first performed at Osaka Takemoto-za in 1765

Join the Japan Society this week for an engaging series of talks accompanying Bunraku Backstage, their current fall exhibition offering a rare, behind-the-scenes look at Bunraku theater. This captivating art form, blending masterful puppetry, shamisen music, and evocative narration, has evolved in Japan since the early 17th century and is recognized by UNESCO as a “masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity.”

Sugimoto’s Sonezaki Shinjū: Onstage and Backstage
November 12, 2024 at 7pm EST
Tickets: $25 Nonmembers; $20 Members

In this talk on Tuesday, Nov 12, contemporary artist Hiroshi Sugimoto delves into his groundbreaking reimagining of the 18th century classic play Sonezaki Shinjū (The Love Suicides at Sonezaki). Sugimoto will share insights into the onstage and backstage workings of his novel approach to his productions. This event also offers a rare opportunity to see Sugimoto perform his Ohatsu puppet as she makes a cameo appearance.

To learn more and purchase tickets, click here.

Picturing Three-Man Puppets: Lecture and Tour with Dr. Henry Smith
November 15, 2024 at 10am EST
Tickets: $5 General Admission

On Friday morning, join the Japan Society for coffee and a lecture by Dr. Henry Smith, Professor Emeritus of Japanese History at Columbia University, where he will take a closer look into the history of the three-man puppet system (sannin-zukai, “three-person handling”) that has been carefully preserved in the National Bunraku Theater in Osaka since its opening in 1984. The talk will be followed by a tour of Bunraku Backstage.

To learn more and purchase tickets, click here.

Robe with Sash, 1905-15, Kyoto, part of the Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum, August-October 2020

Zoom Webinar
Material Transformation: Japanese Textile Art
Thursday, November 14 at 5pm EST

Discover the rich legacy of Japanese textile art in a captivating webinar hosted by Joan B Mirviss LTD and Asia Week New York. For over a millennium, Japan has been celebrated for its vibrant and diverse textile industry. From weaving with silk, wool, wood, stainless steel and even silkworm cocoons to numerous styles of fabric dyeing, Japanese artists have continually pushed the boundaries of tradition and technology.

Join our esteemed panel of experts as they delve into this vibrant history of Japanese textile art, tracing the evolution of the kimono, the sustainable tradition of using recycled materials, and the ways contemporary makers use traditional aesthetics and techniques innovatively to expand the field of Japanese textile art.

PANELISTS:

Steve Beimel, a longtime resident of Japan who produced in-depth cultural tours with a Japanese culture-focused company that he founded in 1992. In 2018, he founded JapanCraft21 (NPO) to save and revitalize Japanese master crafts, support apprenticeships in vulnerable craft genres, and host national contests that give ongoing support to craftspeople.

Monika Bincsik, the Diane and Arthur Abbey Curator for Japanese Decorative Arts at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, specializes in Japanese decorative arts and textiles. She was co-curator of Kimono: A Modern History (2014) and curated Japanese Bamboo Art: The Abbey Collection (2017), and Kyoto: Capital of Artistic Imagination (2019). She has published widely on decorative arts and collecting history.

Anna Jackson is the Keeper of the Asian Department at the Victoria and Albert Museum. A specialist in Japanese textiles and dress, she has written widely on the subject. Most recently she curated the exhibition Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk and edited the accompanying publication. Jackson was awarded the Foreign Minister`s Commendation in 2020 for the promotion of Japanese culture in the United Kingdom.

Reiko Sudō is the design director for the leading textile design firm Nuno, founded in 1984, and a member of the prestigious Japan Design Committee. Additionally, Sudō is an Emerita Professor at Tokyo Zokei University, an honorary MA graduate from the University for the Creative Arts (UK), and a recipient of the Mainichi Design Award, the ROSCOE Design Prize and the Japan Interior Design Association JID Award.

Moderated by Joan Mirviss, whose renowned New York gallery is among the foremost in the field of Japanese art.

To register for this free event, click here.

Courtesy Dai Ichi Arts, Ltd.

Treasures in Miniature
November 11 – December 13, 2024

This winter, Dai Ichi Arts, Ltd. is pleased to offer a curated collection of small works by modern and contemporary master ceramicists from Japan and Korea. These thoughtfully crafted objects celebrate the quiet beauty often overlooked in the hustle of daily life, offering a moment of stillness and reflection. The collection is divided into three distinct sections: ceramics for the calligrapher’s craft, implements for incense, and vessels for sake and tea.

Among the available works is a group of ceramic water droppers from Korea, celebrating the profound influence and shared heritage that has enriched Japanese craftsmanship for centuries. Each object, whether a desk companion or a portable collector’s treasure, invites admiration for its intricate details and masterful design. These miniature works of art embody a sense of beauty in the everyday, making them perfect for personal use or as inspiration on your travels.

As the weather turns colder and the days shorter, we often find ourselves spending more time at home, surrounded by the objects we cherish. This season, Dai Ichi Arts, Ltd. is pleased to share these exquisite ceramic creations, showcasing how innovation and expertise can emerge from the deep traditions of calligraphy, incense rituals, and drinkware. Even on the smallest scale, these objects carry with them centuries of craftsmanship and cultural heritage.

They warmly invite you to explore this enchanting collection and discover the artistry behind these timeless pieces.

To learn more, click here.

Sakiyama Takayuki (b. 1958), Asymmetrical vessel with three distinct swirling carved and incised lobes, 2024, stoneware with sand glaze, 14 3/8 x 25 1/4 x 22 1/2 in.

Swirling Vortex: Sand and Waves
Sakiyama Takayuki
November 7 – mid-December 2024

Joan B Mirviss LTD is thrilled to present Swirling Vortex: Sand and Waves, Sakiyama Takayuki’s sixth solo exhibition with the gallery. Sakiyama continues to explore the meeting of waves and shoreline, drawing inspiration from the rugged coastal landscape near his studio on the Izu peninsula. His dynamic swirling sculptural forms and their carved linear banding evoking vortexes earned him a special mention from the prestigious Loewe Foundation Craft Prize in 2021. The prize jurors commented that his vessel “both invokes and inverts the seabed.”

Form and surface seamlessly mesh in the sculptural vessels created by Sakiyama Takayuki. His double-walled forms with cascading, undulating, carved ridges blur the boundaries between exterior and interior to a mesmerizing effect. Sakiyama achieves the sense of centrifugal motion in his vessels by first fashioning (from clay slabs) separate exterior and interior rings. He sculpts these with spirally diagonal irregular bands, moving along the exterior walls and continuing onto and around the interior. Then, he attaches a swirling base and an open “collar.” He seamlessly unites the segments with additional carved, overlapping bands until all the surfaces combine to create a veritable churning whirlpool. Sakiyama’s own glistening, sand-infused glaze further enhances the vessel surfaces. Their textures call to mind a rough, grainy beach or a Zen Garden’s raked, combed sands.

Joan B Mirviss LTD is delighted to once again showcase his latest powerful, swirling creations in this sixth exhibition with the gallery and warmly invites you to experience them soon!

To view these dynamic vessels and learn more, click here.

Yoshitoshi (1839-1892), Ichikawa Danjuro IX as Benkei in the Play Kanjincho (The Subscription List), 1890, woodblock print, 14.50 x 29.25 in (36.83 x 74.30 cm)

We are thrilled to shine our Gallery Spotlight on The Art of Japan, a gallery dedicated to showcasing exceptional Japanese prints and paintings. With over 75 years of combined experience, partners Doug Frazer and Richard Waldman bring a lifelong passion for Japanese art. Frazer’s focus on early modern prints complements Waldman’s expertise in Ukiyo-e prints from the 18th and 19th centuries, making their collection a comprehensive representation of Japanese printmaking from the 18th to the 20th century.

In addition to their regular exhibitions during New York’s Asia Week in both Spring and Fall, The Art of Japan participates in prestigious print fairs across the U.S., including the IFPDA Print Fair and the Portland Fine Art Fair. Their frequent travels to Japan and Europe have allowed them to cultivate an extensive, carefully researched inventory, which is continually updated on their website. Their latest Fall acquisitions are now available online!

The current collection includes forty-five newly available works, featuring unique Yoshitoshi and Kuniyoshi designs, Kiyochika landscapes and triptychs, a rare 19th century ten sheet print depicting Hokkaido, and captivating works by Surimono and Hiroshige.

To view these remarkable prints and more, click here.

Whether you’re looking to expand your collection or sell individual pieces, The Art of Japan is there to assist. Feel free to reach out by email or phone with any inquiries!

(L) Hirotomi Maeda, Illustrious Reflection, 2013, gold-silver-copper alloy, h. 11 3/4 x w. 7 1/4 x d. 7 1/4 in., Courtesy Ippodo Gallery; (R) Noguchi Ken, L.S.C.U. #1, 2023, urushi, linen and cotton string, h. 11 7/8 x w. 23 5/8 x d. 13 3/4 in., Courtesy Onishi Gallery

Salon Art + Design
November 7 – 11, 2024
Preview: Thursday, Nov 7, 4:30-9pm (early entry) & 6-9pm (by invitation only)
Fair Hours: Friday, Nov 8, 11am-3pm (by invitation only), 3-8pm; Saturday-Sunday, Nov 9-10, 11am-7pm; Monday, Nov 11, 11am-4pm
Park Avenue Armory, 643 Park Avenue, NYC

Ippodo Gallery and Onishi Gallery are thrilled to exhibit at this year’s Salon Art + Design, the leading New York contemporary design fair held at the Park Avenue Armory from November 7 to 11.

At Booth B4, Ippodo Gallery unveils an extraordinary collection of contemporary Japanese art, showcasing Hirotomi Maeda’s intricate goldwork, Kai Tsujimura’s masterfully crafted pottery, Hiromi Itabashi’s expressive ceramic reliefs, Shin Fujihira’s striking cinnabar vase, and Midori Tsukada’s lace-like glasswork, among other standout pieces.⁠

Nearby at Booth C2, Onishi Gallery presents eight “Living National Treasures” (Ningen Kokuhō)—including luminaries like Inoue Manji (porcelain), Katsura Morihito (metalwork), and Yamagishi Kazuo (lacquer)—alongside twelve additional celebrated artists. Themed Merging Japanese Sensibility with Western Contemporary Taste, this exhibition highlights KOGEI’s growing influence on Western lifestyles and global art and design. In addition to this presentation, they will also open an exhibit at their new Upper East Side Gallery.

Purchase your tickets today and be part of this celebration of art and design!

To learn more about the fair, click here.

Installation view, TAI Modern

We are delighted to feature Santa Fe-based TAI Modern in this week’s Gallery Spotlight. Renowned for its dedication to contemporary art across diverse media—with a special focus on Japanese bamboo and contemporary American art—TAI Modern has been the world’s premier gallery for contemporary Japanese bamboo art for over 20 years. The gallery represents over 35 Japanese bamboo artists alongside select contemporary American artists, with a commitment to nurturing artists’ careers, offering expert guidance to collectors, and curating compelling exhibitions.

TAI Gallery was founded by Japanese bamboo art expert Robert T. Coffland, who began sourcing works from contemporary masters in Japan. In 2014, Margo Thoma acquired the gallery and merged it with her contemporary American art gallery, Eight Modern rebranding it to TAI Modern. Under Thoma’s leadership and with guidance from bamboo expert Koichiro Okada, TAI Modern continues to build museum-quality collections and promote Japanese bamboo art in the West. Thoma collaborates closely with senior Japanese artists, supports emerging talent, advises collectors and institutions, and curates exhibitions and public demonstrations.

TAI Modern’s upcoming exhibition in November, History Painting, will showcase new works by the pioneering digital artist Jason Salavon, who has been creating generative and data-driven artwork since the 1990s. History Painting will employ a host of “custom software, imaginings, and elbow grease,” to reinterpret the history of the universe via eight-hundred idiosyncratic encyclopedic entries created by the artist. They are pleased to open the show with an artist’s reception on Friday, November 29, followed by an artist walkthrough on Saturday, November 30.

To learn more about the show and gallery, click here.

Courtesy Alisan Fine Arts

Join Alisan Fine Arts as they celebrate their latest exhibition, Hidden Stories, with an evening reception on October 30th and an Artist Talk featuring one of the exhibiting artists, René Balcer, in conversation with Patricia Marroquin Norby, Associate Curator of Native American Art at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, on the afternoon of November 2!

Hidden Stories
Opening Reception: Wednesday, October 30 from 6-8pm
October 30 – December 21, 2024

Hidden Stories features six contemporary artists who work with photography as their primary medium. The artists in the exhibition are all storytellers; René Balcer, Stephen King and Myeong Soo Kim form narratives through their depictions of natural landscape, while South Ho, Ho Tam and Pixy Liao’s imagery is more personal, showing glimpses of everyday life, cityscapes and moments that enter the surreal.

To learn more, click here.

Artist Talk
Hidden Stories: The Arctic 
Saturday, November 2, 2024 at 2pm

This special conversation between artist René Balcer and Patricia Marroquin Norby, Associate Curator of Native American Art at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, will delve into the stories behind Balcer’s photographs of Inuit communities in the Canadian Arctic, enriched by Patricia’s unique insights.

René Balcer began his photography career in 1968. Eschewing studio work and staged images, Balcer seeks natural compositions that convey a sense of disquietude and an implied or hidden narrative, as well as images that engage his interest in social justice.

Ms. Norby made history in 2020 as the Met’s first full-time curator of Native American art. She has since curated a number of groundbreaking exhibitions during her tenure at the museum.

To learn more, view their Instagram here.

Taynush before Iskandar and the visit to the Brahmans, folio from the Great Mongol Shahnama (Book of kings) by Firdawsi (d.1020), National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Collection, Purchase—Smithsonian Unrestricted Trust Funds, Smithsonian Collections Acquisition Program, and Dr. Arthur M. Sackler, S1986.105.1.

Zoom Talk: Alexander the Great between East and West
Tuesday, October 29, 2024
12-1pm

Throughout history, many authors have recounted Alexander the Great’s deeds and quests, real or fictional. In Iran, Alexander is known as Iskandar, and because of his Persian ancestry he is recognized as a legitimate ruler. In Europe, he is a model of virtue and piety for Christian rulers. In both traditions, Alexander is a relentless adventurer who journeys to the end of the world in an unsuccessful quest for immortality.

Join curator Simon Rettig and professor Mark Cruse as they explore Alexander’s centrality in the cultures of the global late Middle Ages, focusing on fourteenth-century illustrated manuscripts of Firdawsi’s Shahnama (Book of kings) and copies of the Romance of Alexander from the contemporaneous Latin West.

This program is held in conjunction with their exhibition An Epic of Kings: The Great Mongol Shahnama, now on view through January 12, 2025.

To learn more and register, click here.