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Globe and Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Globe and Mail
Ink, Spirit, and Cultural Resonance: Xu Zhongou's Solo Exhibition 'Beauty of Harmony & Unity' Opens at MEMOR Museum
NEW YORK, NY - Memor Museum, New York's only museum dedicated to Asian cultural expression on the Upper East Side, presents Beauty of Harmony & Unity, a solo exhibition by Chinese artist and educator Xu Zhongou, opening June 3 with a preview artist conversation on May 23. The exhibition showcases Xu's acclaimed 'color-ink' series, a profound reinterpretation of Chinese calligraphy as a contemporary visual and philosophical language. Poster of Beauty of Harmony & Unity. Image Courtesy of Memor Museum. This exhibition continues Memor's commitment to cross-cultural dialogue through artistic depth. 'In a world increasingly fragmented, we hope to offer an answer from the East: not confrontation, not rupture, but harmony, coexistence, and symbiosis,' said Willa Ao, director and curator of Memor Museum. 'Xu Zhongou is not only a deeply thoughtful artist, but he is also an educator whose work aligns with our mission of cultural and spiritual reflection.' Best known for his long-running series In the Name of Walnut, Xu's practice transforms traditional materials into vehicles for spiritual inquiry. In Beauty of Harmony & Unity, he dissolves the boundary between ink and image, freeing the brush from textual meaning and allowing color to play a central role — an act he calls 'releasing writing from the character system.' Color, drawn from temple aesthetics, is used not as ornamentation but as a symbolic language grounded in folk traditions and ritual. As the artist writes, 'Writing is no longer just about the act of writing. It becomes a way to summon the senses, activate emotion, and connect with belief.' From left to right: Executive Curator Wera Wei, Artist Xu Zhongou and Willa Ao, Director of Memor Museum. Image Courtesy of Memor Museum. The exhibition is curated by Willa Ao, with executive curation by Wei Mengying, who describes the collaboration as transformative: 'Working alongside Professor Xu has been an experience of profound nourishment. He is never the distant 'authority,' but a warm, humble educator who brings deep care to every moment — his persistence, his reverence for thought, his precision in every detail left a lasting impression on me,' said Wei. 'His works are not just visual languages, but spiritual practices. And the 'harmony' we speak of is not just a curatorial theme — it's who he is.' Xu began his explorations into color-ink abstraction in the 1990s while serving as a visiting professor at Maryland Institute College of Art. In 1995, he was commissioned to paint a portrait of former U.S. President George H. W. Bush, now housed in the Bush Presidential Library. His works are held in permanent collections including the British Museum and the Muban Educational Trust in the U.K. 'In a time when art must respond to the deeply layered structure of the world,' Xu writes, 'we must move from a flat perspective to a dimensional one — to think and create in step with the rhythm of our time.' Artist Xu Zhongou. Image Courtesy of Memor Museum. Beauty of Harmony & Unity will run through summer 2025 at Memor Museum, accompanied by public programming including guided tours, family workshops, and artist talks. About Memor Museum: Memor Museum, the organization behind this exhibition, is a global leader in pioneering museum experiences at the intersection of culture and technology. With multiple sites worldwide, it is dedicated to cultural heritage preservation through innovative exhibition planning, immersive and interactive experiences, and a diverse range of activities that bring history to life. The museum complex frequently engages in projects related to artifact preservation and restoration, development of relevant technologies, and the creation of cultural heritage IPs. Memor Museum's commitment to protecting and utilizing cultural heritage ensures that exhibitions like Sanxingdui Encounter remain dynamic, educational, and deeply engaging. Visit them on the Upper East Side at 1130 Madison Ave. For more information on the exhibition and to explore Memor Museum's global initiatives, visit
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Asian Emerging Artist List Exhibition Wraps Up in Hong Kong, Spotlights Rising Talent Across Asia
06/02/2025, Toronto Ontario // KISS PR Brand Story PressWire // Hong Kong, June 1, – Younes Bensebaa, International Arts News —The Asian Emerging Artist List Exhibition concluded on Sunday after a four-day run at AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong, drawing international acclaim for its showcase of promising new voices in contemporary Asian art. Curated by Tingting Fang, Dean of the Asian Academy of Arts, the exhibition has become a cornerstone of Hong Kong's annual art season. Held from May 30 to June 2, the exhibition featured works from artists across Asia and beyond, including participants from Singapore, London, Shanghai, and New York. Mediums ranged from traditional painting and sculpture to digital works, immersive installations, and virtual reality experiences. The show attracted collectors, curators, and art professionals from Europe, North America, and across Asia, underscoring its growing global relevance. A Platform for Emerging Talent The Asian Academy of Arts announced the successful conclusion of the exhibition, which was curated and led by Tingting Fang — a prominent figure in contemporary Asian art and a champion of emerging artists. Held at AsiaWorld-Expo, one of Asia's premier venues for cultural events, the exhibition earned wide recognition and high attendance, further solidifying its position on the international art calendar. Timed to coincide with Hong Kong's vibrant art season, the exhibition drew significant attention from collectors, critics, and global institutions. Tingting Fang: Visionary Curator and Mentor Central to the exhibition's success is Tingting Fang's inspired curatorial leadership. For over a decade, Fang has devoted herself to identifying and nurturing emerging talent across Asia, building platforms for new voices to connect with global audiences. Her ability to elevate raw artistic talent into internationally recognized names has made her one of the region's most respected mentors and curators.. Combining a deep knowledge of traditional Asian aesthetics with a sharp eye for contemporary trends, Fang has helped bridge generations of artistic practice. Under her leadership, the Asian Academy of Arts has offered young artists valuable grants, exhibition opportunities, and access to galleries, biennales, and collectors worldwide. 'The Asian Emerging Artist List is more than an exhibition — it's a movement,' said Tingting Fang. 'These artists represent the future of Asian art, and our role is to ensure their voices are heard on the global stage. This exhibition is about giving them the visibility and confidence they need to thrive.' Asian Art on the World Stage Now in its latest edition, the Asian Emerging Artist List Exhibition has become one of the most important platforms for discovering new talent in the region. Artists are selected through a rigorous vetting process by the Academy's curatorial team, who review thousands of submissions based on originality, technical skill, and conceptual depth. Many artists featured in the exhibition have gone on to show at major global institutions. As a result, the List is increasingly regarded as a barometer for future success, attracting close attention from collectors, galleries, and art foundations worldwide. This year's exhibition stood out for its diversity of media — from traditional fine art to cutting-edge technology — reflecting the breadth of contemporary artistic innovation in Asia. Participating artists came from global cities such as Singapore, London, Shanghai, and New York, underscoring the international scope of the event. Through her curation, Fang ensured that forward-thinking, boundary-pushing work was at the forefront of the visitor experience. Championing the Next Generation Beyond its visual impact, the exhibition plays a pivotal role in promoting younger Asian artists who often face challenges entering the global art scene. By featuring their work on a high-profile platform, the exhibition creates valuable exposure and facilitates connections with key players in the art world. Strategically positioned during Hong Kong's peak art season, the event receives maximum visibility and media coverage, helping to propel participating artists toward international recognition. In doing so, the exhibition contributes to a broader conversation about the evolving identity of Asian contemporary art. Global Interest and Cultural Impact Interest in the exhibition circulated well before its official opening, with collectors, journalists, and art world insiders from Asia, Europe, and North America expressing strong anticipation. Many traveled to Hong Kong specifically to attend, driven by Tingting Fang's reputation for discovering exceptional talent. Several artists she has championed in previous exhibitions have since emerged as leading figures in the global art world. Join the Movement The Asian Emerging Artist List Exhibition is more than a display of talent — it is a cultural movement redefining the future of contemporary art in Asia. It not only showcases the region's brightest new artists but also fosters the next generation of artistic leadership. For collectors, it offers rare opportunities to acquire early works from rising stars. For curators, it introduces fresh perspectives and emerging themes. And for art lovers, it is a chance to witness the shaping of tomorrow's visual culture. The exhibition fosters global connections, sparks cross-cultural dialogue, and supports the professional growth of artists poised to define the next era of contemporary art. Through acquisitions, partnerships, and increased visibility, the global art community can help elevate these voices — amplifying Asia's dynamic creative presence on the world stage. Original Source of the original story >> Asian Emerging Artist List Exhibition Wraps Up in Hong Kong, Spotlights Rising Talent Across Asia
New York Times
4 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
The Billionaire Behind Japan's Art Islands Has One Final Jewel in His Crown
On a tree-dotted hill on Naoshima, an island in Japan's Seto Inland Sea, a museum was being completed, with construction equipment on hand and workers finishing their day. Opening Saturday, the Naoshima New Museum of Art, a concrete structure by Tadao Ando, has a few unusual touches for a building by this Pritzker Prize-winning architect. There's a pebbly wall along the walkway to the entrance. To harmonize with the townscape, it has a black plaster exterior, exhibition spaces that are largely underground, and a single story above, topped by a sloped metal roof. The iridescent sea is visible from the top floor. The museum is the latest star in the constellation of more than three dozen museums and projects called Benesse Art Site Naoshima, which spread across three islands. The New Museum is the first to focus exclusively on contemporary Asian art. And it is likely to provide more fuel for global art pilgrims — some six million of them since 2004 — who have flocked to the islands, most taking a couple of trains and a ferry to experience major artworks in unusual settings. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
CBS News
21-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Rooted in culture: Asian American artists unite through DAAART in Dallas
Whether it's a painting, porcelain, or beadwork, the artwork on the walls at the Dallas Asian American Historical Society is unique and meaningful. "I feel that this front gallery section is really exemplary in that it is representing Asian Texans from across the diaspora," said Christina Hahn. "Historically, we are the children of immigrants, and art is a risky field to take. A lot of us weren't encouraged to pursue creative fields in that way." Building community through art CBS News Texas After realizing that she and many other Asian Texans often felt excluded from the creative world, Hahn founded the Dallas Asian American Art Collective, also known as DAAART. What began as a small coffee shop meetup two years ago has grown into a nonprofit with more than 200 creatives across the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Its mission is to connect and cultivate the Asian American creative community. "For us, it's about rooting ourselves in community and being there for one another—holding each other accountable, but also being very proud of our roots and our shared commonalities and culture," Hahn told CBS News Texas. Asian American voices in Texas According to Pew Research, Texas has the third-largest Asian population in the U.S., following California and New York. In North Texas, Asians make up 8% of the population, and that number is growing. Leili Arai Tavallaei, an artist and DAAART board member, said the organization gave her a sense of belonging as a bicultural and mixed-race artist. "We, as Asian American Texans, have been here since the beginning," Arai Tavallaei said. "We're growing, and usually we're not the ones getting to tell our stories, so we really appreciate the ability to do that." She added that being part of DAAART helped her feel seen, especially as someone from a less-represented part of the Asian diaspora. "Often, you don't necessarily see yourself even within the Asian community," she said. "To see DAAART working so hard to make it all inclusive really made me feel confident in the space." Asian American cultural center vision DAAART also hosts exhibits and workshops and connects members with opportunities and resources. The group is seeking funding to expand its daily operations and hopes to one day open an Asian American cultural center in Dallas. "We have contributed to Texas through the building of railroads, through the contribution of different cuisines, and now as artists," Hahn said. "I'm really excited and grateful for all that has been happening for us and excited for us to keep building together." The group hopes to continue fostering culture, community, and creativity for the next generation of Asian American artists in North Texas. "I really encourage those in the Asian American community to take advantage of the mic we're being presented and to show the Texan perspective," Arai Tavallaei said.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Hong Kong's Kiang Malingue Gallery Is Expanding to New York
Kiang Malingue, one of Hong Kong's most prominent galleries, will open a new commercial space in New York's Chinatown neighborhood this week. Known for a program that equally nurtures emerging talents and represents some of most acclaimed artists from Asia, Kiang Malingue has established itself in the past 15 years as a gallery to watch. Among the artists on its roster are two artists who have previously done national pavilions at the Venice Biennale, Ellen Pau (Hong Kong in 2001) and Ho Tzu Nyen (Singapore in 2011), as well as US-based artists Homer Shew, Brook Hsu, and Kyung-Me. More from Robb Report Sean Connery's Former Villa on the French Riviera Lists for $26.5 Million Harry Styles's Band Members Are Selling Their $2.8 Million Historic Home in Pasadena Sotheby's High Jewelry Sale Is Offering Up Slew of Collector-Worthy Pieces-Here Are Our Favorites Its founders, Edouard Malingue and Lorraine Kiang, said the move to New York is part of a strategy that includes tapping into a growing community of young Asian American collectors and an increasing market interest in Asian and Asian diaspora artists. 'After years of running the gallery in Hong Kong, we wanted to have a foot in the West to continue promoting the program and to create more dialogue between the West and where we are in Hong Kong now,' Malingue told ARTnews. Added Kiang, 'The program was always meant to grow and develop. Opening in New York gives us the opportunity to see how it can evolve elsewhere.' The gallery, too, has matured alongside growing interest in understanding Asian artists and Asian art. Two decades ago, institutions and scholars only scratched the surface, whereas today, audiences want to go deeper. Kiang Malingue wants to serve as one venue for that to occur as 'there aren't enough galleries that truly spend the time to delve into this subject matter,' Kiang said. Located at 50 Eldridge Street, the space's inaugural exhibition will present new work by Japanese artist Hiroka Yamashita, marking her New York solo debut. The show is also a homecoming of sorts as Yamashita received her MFA from Rutgers University in 2019 and hasn't been back to the city since. 'It's an exciting return to New York for her—she knows the city well,' Kiang said. Chinese galleries have been steadily expanding their presence in New York in the past few years, mirroring a broader migration trend as more wealthy Chinese individuals move to the United States. In 2023, Alisan Fine Arts, a long-established Hong Kong gallery known for championing Chinese modern masters and contemporary ink paintings, opened a location on the Upper East Side. Earlier this year, Shanghai-based gallery Bank, which represents some of China's most buzzed-about ultra-contemporary artists like Sun Yitian and Liang Hao, launched its own outpost in the city. Recognizing the potential to connect with those high-net-worth individuals as well as members of the Asian diaspora seeking to reconnect with their cultural roots, Kiang said the gallery hopes to foster a sense of community. 'It's just like Asians wanting to have Asian food in New York,' she said, noting that the collectors they've already met in the city are eager to learn more when they talk about artists from Hong Kong, Greater China, and the Southeast Asia. 'There's a kind of familiarity—whether it's in the language or in what the artist is doing.' Even still, Malingue hopes all will come to the gallery to learn about its program. 'I believe a gallery's role is to bring people together—to create a place where people can meet and discover things they didn't expect,' he said. In its first year in New York, Kiang Malingue plans to mount three to four exhibitions, before refining their approach for the following year. While some of the programming in New York will be drawn from Hong Kong, the aim is to also develop exhibitions that connect the two spaces and for the New York outpost to be rooted in its local context. 'It's really like two trees,' said Kiang. 'One that's deeply rooted in Hong Kong, and a young one we're planting in New York.' A Hong Kong gallery opening in the US at this moment, when the global art market is contracting and geopolitical tensions between the US and China are at a historic high, exacerbated by a tariff war, might seem like an odd choice. (The Trump administration's sweeping 145 percent tariff on imports from China, now also applies to Hong Kong.) When asked about the impact of the tariffs, especially when several Chinese galleries have pulled back even showing at US art fairs, Malingue said his gallery's operations haven't yet disrupted, but he acknowledged the challenges ahead. 'It's super tough, but it's never been more vital to have a dialogue between New York and Hong Kong,' Malingue said. 'When things become tough, that's when you need to engage with the public, because sales don't happen with the snap of a finger. We have to explain what the artist is about.' The gallery has long championed multimedia practices, particularly video, which are less affected by tariffs. In September, it will present a video-based exhibition by Chinese artist Zheng Bo, the first of many such shows in the medium. However, Kiang emphasized that the gallery remains committed to showcasing work across all mediums, ranging from painting to installation, and will not pivot solely to video art because of the ongoing tariff dispute. Another strategy, Malingue noted, could be that the gallery launch a residency program to invite artists to live and create in New York for extended periods if tariffs on Hong Kong artists become prohibitively high. Despite the current state of US-China relations, Malingue said institutional interest stateside hasn't waned. 'I want to insist on the fact that US institutions are still extremely engaged with what's happening around the world,' he said. 'They remain open, curious, supportive.' While launching a new space during a market downturn might seem counterintuitive, many art market experts believe it's actually one of the best times to expand. Kiang shares this optimism, noting that the timing could work in their favor. As speculative buying slows, she said, collectors often turn their attention away from the blue-chip or the market darling toward emerging artists with experimental or conceptual practices, whose works typically fall into lower price brackets. This trend is backed by the latest UBS Art Basel Market Report, which found that while global art sales declined by 12 percent, the segment for works priced under $50,000 grew in both value and volume in 2024. That describes much of Kiang Malingue's roster, with prices ranging from $5,000 to $300,000. 'You can only be a gallerist if you're idealistic,' said Malingue. 'You have to believe that people will come together—and when you present an artist from the Asian diaspora, you have to believe that it won't just resonate with the diaspora community. The work can touch the soul and curiosity of a much broader audience.' Best of Robb Report The 10 Priciest Neighborhoods in America (And How They Got to Be That Way) In Pictures: Most Expensive Properties Click here to read the full article.
