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Last Days for Tanaka Kyokusho’s Solo Exhibit at TAI Modern

Tanaka Kyokusho, Dark Ship II, 2020, madake bamboo, rattan, 8.50 x 28.50 x 5.00 in.

TAI Modern
Tanaka Kyokusho
Closes this Saturday, August 12th

As one of the most well-respected creators of bamboo art alive today, Tanaka holds himself to a high standard of process and vision and takes the time before each piece to compose and experiment with shape, colors, and the widths and spacings of the bamboo strips. This leads to a series of drafts, executed through technical sketches and physical samples to evaluate the aesthetic outcomes of these variables.

There is also a catalogue available for purchase in the gallery, which includes an excellent essay by Kyoto National Museum curator, Melissa Rinne, regarding Tanaka-san’s work and process.

Be sure to experience these masterful pieces before the show closes this weekend.

To view the exhibition and catalogue, click here.

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Artist Spotlight: Matsuda Yuriko Exhibiting at Dai Ichi Arts

From left to right: Water Pitcher 水注, enamel glazed porcelain, 6 x 9.6 x 7 in.; Flower Vessel 花器, enamel glazed porcelain, 9.9 x 6 x 5.9 in.; In her Shoes 2, 2008, enamel glazed porcelain, 6.5 x 10.5 x 3 in.

Dai Ichi Arts, Ltd.
Clay in Motion: Women Artists in Contemporary Japanese Ceramics
July 20–August 18, 2023

In the tradition of American Pop Art, celebrated ceramic artist, Matsuda Yuriko 松田百合子 (b. 1943) transforms traditional materials of porcelain and enamel glaze into colorful flights of imagination. Her use of everyday objects as central subjects in her eccentric work has a strange quality that pulls the viewer into the piece, demanding further investigation. While Matsuda finds inspiration in French artist Henri Matisse's use of vibrant, unnatural color in his paintings, her work remains deeply original in its essential zest for the things of everyday life.

Experience these whimsical works at Dai Ichi Art’s current group show Clay in Motion: Women Artists in Japanese Ceramics.  From emerging artists to those who are part of a vanguard generation of highly influential post-war artists in Japan, the works presented in this exhibition are imbued with intelligence, creativity, and sensitivity for form.

View Matsuda Yuriko's works here.

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Thomas Murray Exhibiting at Objects of Art Santa Fe

Kapala Bhairava – Nepal, 16th-17th c., 27 in.

Objects of Art / Santa Fe
August 10–13, 2023

El Museo Cultural – in the Railyard
555 Camino de la Familia
Santa Fe, NM 87501

Thomas Murray is pleased to announce that they will be exhibiting at Objects of Art & American Indian/Tribal Santa Fe this Thursday through Sunday. Be sure to visit and view these carefully curated art objects & textiles of exceptional quality and historic significance.

Below are a few preview highlights:

Mask
Nepal Bhairava Repoussé “Mask”, 17th-18th c., 8 ¾ x 6 ¾ x 3 in.

Lion head
Lion Head Phurba, Nepal, 19th c. or earlier

To view the full exhibition, click here.

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Member Monday Highlight: Rare Koryo Celadon Tile from Zetterquist Galleries Joins the Met Collection

Koryo Celadon Inlaid Tile, Koryo Dynasty, 12th – 13th c. AD, Korea, L: 31.7 x H: 22.8cm

This extremely rare Koryo Celadon Tile, made of thin stoneware with a floral and bird decoration inlaid with white slip and iron oxide black details, was recently acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Korean Department.

Koryo Dynasty inlaid celadon tiles are exceedingly rare outside of Korea. They are almost exclusively found in Buddhist temple excavations, indicating that their use was reserved for this purpose. They are often found cracked due to their extreme thinness.

There is a similar example in the collection of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, acquired in 1933. Another is in the Cleveland Museum of Art since 1918. The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka has a smaller example published in their 1992 “An Introduction to Koryo Celadon”, pl.80. A fourth example from the Korean National Museum is published in “Sekai Touji Zenshu”, Shogakukan Tokyo, 1978 Vol. 18, pl. 147.

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Korean Cultural Center NY Opens Exhibition Next Week

Presented by Gallery Korea at the Korean Cultural Center New York

Story of a Thousand Years: Master of Goryeo Celadon
Master Se-Yong Kim & Dr. Dohun Kim
Opening Reception: Thursday, August 10th, 6–8 pm

On View: August 10–31, 2023

In commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the ROK-U.S. Alliance, the Korean Cultural Center New York is proud to host a special ceramics exhibition showcasing the extraordinary works of renowned artist Master Se-Yong Kim, who carries on the tradition of Goryeo Celadon with his son, Dr. Dohun Kim.

At the age of 77, Master Se-Yong Kim continues to actively create remarkable artworks that have gained international recognition, earning a place in esteemed collections such as those of the Dalai Lama and the late Queen Elizabeth II. This exhibition features over 50 pieces, granting visitors to witness the pinnacle of skill and innovative techniques employed by the master in the realm of Goryeo Celadon.

One of the highlights of this exhibition is the largest Celadon vase ever created, standing at an impressive height of 42 inches. This monumental piece took over a decade to complete, and its display provides a profound and meaningful experience for all who visit.

Join the Korean Cultural Center New York next Thursday, Aug 10 to celebrate the rich heritage of Korean Goryeo Celadon and the mastery of Master Se-Yong Kim and Dr. Dohun Kim, as they delve into the Story of a Thousand Years.

For more information and to RSVP, click here.

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Final Week of Two Shows

Marzia Farhana, Whirl of time (set of 9), paper work, 11 x 11 in. (each), courtesy Akar Prakar

Be sure to catch Contours: Practices from Beyond the Border at Akar Prakar Delhi and Warm to the Touch: Cool and Refreshing Celadon at Joan B. Mirviss LTD before they close next week!

Akar Prakar Dehli
Contours: Practices from Beyond the Border
Closes Next Thurs, Aug 10

Conceived as an overview of works by artists from Bangladesh and Cambodia from the Akar Prakar collection, Contours meditates on the individual narratives that drive the practices of artists from the regions. The works of Manir Mrittik, Marzia Farhana, Najmun Nahar Keya, Yasmin Jahan Nupur and Yim Maline focus on art historiography & interpretations and ecology & community.

The presence of geographical borders might categorise the artists to be ‘foreign,’ but they share a common past and history with India. The world today has afforded us an opportunity for amoebic exchanges of knowledge and cultural practices. This exhibition aims to promote such exchanges by showcasing these visual encounters, in their most organic and fragmented form. 

To view the exhibition, click here.

Kawase
Kawase Shinobu (b. 1950), Ranji (Indigo celadon) incense burner, 2019, courtesy Joan B Mirviss LTD

Joan B Mirviss LTD
Warm to the Touch: Cool and Refreshing Celadon
Closes Next Friday, Aug 11

Highly prized across Asia for centuries, celadon finds inventive new expression in recent ceramics by leading Japanese artists. This summer, the captivating qualities of celadon are showcased in a range of forms and styles by a dozen modern and contemporary Japanese ceramic artists from different backgrounds and traditions. From exquisite vessels to daring sculptures, works in this exhibition play with celadon’s categorical boundaries and even reconsiders its very definition.

Paired with this intriguing celadon showcase is a suite of never-before-seen paintings by MINOL ARAKI (1928-2010). An industrial designer and ink painter, Araki was a fascinating hybrid figure who bridged many worlds. His paintings reflect his sensitivity to color and light and make a perfect complement to the landscape of celadon in this show.

To view the exhibition, click here.

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Join Asia Society New York at Summer Streets this Saturday

Asia Society at Summer Streets

Saturday Aug 5, 2023
8 am–1 pm
Arts and Culture Rest Stop at Park Avenue and 51st Street

Asia Society New York is returning to Summer Streets this year! Come visit their booth at the Arts and Culture Rest Stop, just down the open street from their building at 725 Park Avenue, for a morning of crafts, activities, giveaways, and sneak previews of what they have in store for the fall and beyond.

Their booth will include a special craft with origami artist Sam Ita, themed giveaways and raffle prizes, and more information about their upcoming Meiji Modern exhibition and ongoing Year of Japan. They’ll be back at Summer Streets on August 19, in the same location, with a brand-new activity.

Summer Streets takes place on select Saturdays between 7 am and 1 pm where miles of city streets are open for people to play, walk, and bike. Take a break along the route at one of their rest stops to enjoy free activities, healthy recreation, and the use of more sustainable forms of transportation. Summer Streets is a project of the New York City Department of Transportation and an annual celebration of the city's most valuable public space – our streets.

For more information, click here.

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Thomsen Gallery and Ralph M. Chait Galleries Join the Nantucket Show

Kano Eitatsu (ac. first half of the 19th century), Birds Flying over Rocks, Bamboo and Flowers, 19th century, Japan, Six-panel folding screen, Ink and mineral colors on paper with gold leaf, 40 x 104 in., Courtesy Thomsen Gallery

Nantucket Show
August 4–7, 2023
Opening reception: August 3 at 6pm
Hours: Friday and Saturday 10am-6pm; Sunday 10am-5pm; Monday 10am-3pm
Held at the Nantucket Boys and Girls Club located at 61 Sparks Avenue

Thomsen Gallery and Ralph M. Chait Galleries are pleased to be participating in this year's Nantucket Summer Show. 

Thomsen Gallery will be presenting Japanese art focusing on Japanese screens and scroll paintings, complimented by Japanese gold lacquer boxes, works by the porcelain sculptor Sueharu Fukami, and bamboo ikebana baskets. Be sure to visit them at Booth 22.

While Ralph M. Chait Galleries will be displaying a wonderful assortment of porcelain, pottery, works of art, and China Trade pictures.

Butterfly

Fine Chinese Famille Rose Eggshell Porcelain Soup Plate, Yongzheng period, AD 1723-1735, Beautifully decorated with flowers and butterflies, All exquisitely painted, Dia: 8 ½ inches (21 cm.), Ex Collection: Octave du Sartel–famed latter 19th century French Collector and early Western scholar on Chinese porcelain, Collection label to underfoot, Courtesy Ralph M. Chait Galleries

This year’s show, which includes 32 carefully selected fine antiques dealers and art galleries from the US and abroad, offers art and antiques in every category. Organized by the Antiques Council, this not-for-profit organization is committed to supporting charitable organizations that benefit the Island of Nantucket, its history, and architecture.

For more information, click here.

For ferry information between Hyannis and Nantucket, click here.

• • •

Songtsam’s First Low-Carbon Hotel in Tibet is Now Open

Mountain view from Songtsam Linka Retreat Lake Basong Tso 

Asia Week New York sponsor, Songtsam, an award-winning luxury boutique hotel collection and Destination Management Company, located in the Tibet and Yunnan Provinces of China announces the soft opening of their first low-carbon hotel, the Songtsam Linka Retreat Lake Basong Tso in Jieba Village, Tibet. With the official opening planned for mid-September, this 122-room and suite Retreat will be Songtsam’s 16th and largest property.

Mr. Baima Duoji, Songtsam Founder & Chairman, hopes that the location of the hotel will enable more visitors to experience the extraordinary beauty of the location and the local Tibetan culture. Baima further stated that he hopes that Songtsam’s goal of achieving zero-carbon implementation will serve as a model for other businesses in the area to also become more sustainable.

Last year, Songtsam and Siemens Energy signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement to jointly promote green and low-carbon circular development in rural areas. The energy consumption of this new low-carbon hotel is offset by using self-generated electricity and reducing carbon emissions by utilizing the abundant solar energy in the region. Songtsam is also committed to supporting the local and economic development of the community while preserving the local culture by providing at least 120 jobs for local villagers and giving 5% of the property’s operating income to the adjacent Jieba village every year.

Basong Tso River

Songtsam Linka Retreat Lake Basong Tso on the holy Lake Basong Tso

During the soft opening there will be 41 guest rooms available, showcasing the ingenious fusion of Tibetan architecture and modern design. The Songtsam Linka Retreat Lake Basong Tso’s design was inspired by the Cuogao Village’s settlement style and provides excellent views of the holy Lake Basong Tso and the holy mountain. The structure and appearance of the hotel building are a tribute to the local cultural history of Basong Tso, while the color schemes inside the hotel reflect an extension of the natural scenery of Lake Basong Tso itself.

Basong Tso View

The view of Jieqing Naragabu (also known as "Burning Flame") from Songtsam Linka Retreat Lake Basong Tso

Songtsam Linka Retreat Lake Basong Tso is located in the historic Jieba village where villagers keep Gongbu Tibetan traditions alive. During festivals, the villagers go around the lake, race horses, and dance, while on weekdays, the elderly villagers are often dressed in gorgeous and heroic Gongbu Tibetan costumes providing Songtsam guests a rare opportunity to witness age-old Tibetan customs and experience the spirituality and nature of their surroundings.

For more information: https://www.songtsam.com/en

• • •

Artist Reception and Talk at TAI Modern

Tanaka Kyokusho, Grass That Shimmers Crimson II, 2017, madake bamboo, rattan, 12.50 x 16.00 x 4.50 in.

Artist's Reception: Friday, July 28, 5-7 PM
Artist Talk & Demonstration: Saturday, July 29, 2-3:30 PM

Join Japanese bamboo artist Tanaka Kyokusho this weekend as the gallery celebrates his current solo exhibition. A reception for the artist will be held this evening, followed by a demonstration of bamboo technique and lecture on process by Tanaka tomorrow afternoon.

As one of the most well-respected creators of bamboo art alive today, Tanaka holds himself to a high standard of process and vision and takes the time before each piece to compose and experiment with shape, colors, and the widths and spacings of the bamboo strips. This leads to a series of drafts, executed through technical sketches and physical samples to evaluate the aesthetic outcomes of these variables.

For more information, click here.

• • •