The Asia Now Fair Celebrates 10 Years Of Championing Asian Contemporary Art

Growing in leaps and bounds, Asia Now has grown into an influential art fair showcasing the dynamic art scene of Asia and its diasporas over the past decade. Co-founded by Alexandra Fain in 2015, the fair highlights a diverse range of emerging and established artists, fostering cross-cultural dialog and connections between different artistic practices. With a strong emphasis on curated exhibitions and innovative programming, Asia Now serves as a vital platform for galleries, collectors and art enthusiasts to engage with the richness and complexity of Asian contemporary art, while also promoting greater visibility for underrepresented voices in the global art landscape.

Running until October 20, 2024 at the Monnaie de Paris, the 10^th edition brings together 71 galleries presenting solo and duo exhibitions by artists from 28 territories across Asia, from Central Asia to the Asia-Pacific region, including West, South, Southeast and East Asia. Returning participants include Perrotin, Galleria Continua, Yeo Workshop, The Drawing Room, NIKA Project Space, A2Z Art Gallery, Galerie Bao, Galerie Marguo and MOU Projects, alongside first-time exhibitors such as Esther Schipper, FOST Gallery, Zilberman, Carlier Gebauer and Kaikai Kiki Gallery. This year’s guest curators, the international curatorial cooperative Radicants, established by Nicolas Bourriaud, have imagined an exhibition under the theme “Ceremony”, mixing the sacred and the profane, from culinary rituals to the unifying power of community celebrations.

Asia Now commissioned two site-specific installations. The first by Britto Arts Trust, a Dhaka-based non-profit artists’ organization exploring the socio-political issues, history and cultures of Bangladesh, presents “Palan & Pakghor” (The Kitchen Garden and The Social Kitchen): an open-air family kitchen and garden, where artists cook and share food and conversation. The second commission by Indian-South African artist and architect Sumayya Vally is the performative installation “L’Eau dans une Main et le Feu dans l’Autre” uniting earth, air, fire and water in a circular space built from stacked fired and unfired clay jars, under the artistic direction of Kathy Alliou. I sit down with Alexandra Fain to discuss the impact of Asia Now over the past 10 years.

Reflecting on Asia Now’s 10^th edition, how has the fair evolved since its inception in 2015, and what do you consider the most significant milestones in its journey?

Asia Now was born from a desire to provide visibility to an emerging Asian contemporary art scene that was still relatively unknown in Europe at the time. From its first edition in 2015, held at the Espace Cardin in Paris, we have focused on introducing galleries and artists who had never before exhibited in the city. One key milestone was our inaugural edition, which featured prominent galleries like Thousand Plateaus, Léo Xu and Bank. Each subsequent edition has been marked by key moments of artistic firsts, such as highlighting the contemporary art scene from the Philippines in 2016 or collaborating with the globally-renowned architect Sou Fujimoto for our Japanese platform. Our journey reflects a constant evolution, expanding from Chinese contemporary art to embracing the broader Asian art scene, including South Asia, Korea and even Central Asia. A notable achievement was our persistence during the COVID-19 years, which saw us hosting the fair for local audiences, with the support of major galleries like Perrotin and Templon.

Asia Now has always focused on highlighting Asian contemporary art. Why do you think it’s important for European audiences to engage with this particular scene, and how does the fair continue to fulfill this mission?

Engaging with the Asian contemporary art scene is crucial for European audiences because it broadens their understanding of the global art landscape. Asia is home to dynamic cultural and artistic movements that challenge Western-centric narratives and offer fresh perspectives on contemporary issues. Asia Now remains committed to this mission by continually evolving our curatorial platform, focusing not just on geographical representation, but also on thematic explorations, such as this year’s focus on rituals and ceremonies under the guidance of Nicolas Bourriaud. By doing so, we provide a deeper connection between European audiences and the diverse, rich traditions and innovations emerging from the Asian art world.

What do you believe makes Asian contemporary artists stand out in the global art world, and how does Asia Now showcase their unique value to collectors and institutions?

Asian contemporary artists stand out because of their ability to blend traditional cultural elements with cutting-edge, global artistic practices. Whether through performance, new technologies or traditional mediums like ceramics and painting, they offer a unique lens on global issues such as identity, migration and technology. Asia Now showcases this distinctiveness by offering a platform for in-depth, curated presentations, as seen with our partnerships with galleries specializing in video art or by inviting emerging artists like Sumayya Vally and collectives such as Britto Arts Trust. Our goal is to bring forward the richness and diversity of these voices, ensuring that collectors and institutions appreciate both their cultural context and their innovative approaches.

This year’s edition of Asia Now will feature many talented participants. Which artists, galleries, site-specific installations, projects or performances stand out for you, and who should collectors or art enthusiasts be following closely?

This year, several projects stand out, especially those that emphasize interaction and participation. For example, the platform “Togetherness: Ceremonies of Interdependence” curated by Radicants explores rituals and their role in fostering community and empathy. Artists like Mirna Bamieh, Isaac Chong Wai and Charwei Tsai have particularly exciting works, while galleries like Carlier Gebauer and Chi-Wen are showcasing strong video art projects. Performance is also a key highlight this year, with artists like Lu Yang and Sin Wai Kin continuing to push the boundaries of video art and digital expression. I would encourage collectors to follow these names closely, as they represent the future of the Asian art scene.