Earthquake relief part of Spring Asian Art Week in New York; Highlights in Japanese Art
- March 18, 2011 12:03
From March 18 to 28, auction houses, museums, and many of the world's leading galleries are hosting dozens of special exhibitions and sales across New York City, featuring fine examples of ancient to contemporary Chinese, Indian, Himalayan, Southeast Asian, Korean, and Japanese art. Following the devastating effects of the 9.0 earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on March 11, several arts venues have added humanitarian aid to their agenda during this annual Spring homage to Asian art.
Japan Society (333 East 47th St.) created a disaster relief fund to aid victims of the earthquake which had raised over $1 million by March 17. Currently on view is "Bye Bye Kitty!!! Between Heaven and Hell in Contemporary Japanese Art," an exhibition which challenges perceptions of newer Japanese art as solely representing the kawaii (cute) aesthetic. One highlight is Yoshitomo Nara's 2008 color photograph of two giant "Hello Kitty" figures atop a pristine granite gravestone.
Through June 30, Japan Society will donate 50% of all ticket and admission sales to Japan Society's Earthquake Relief Fund. In addition, 100% of proceeds from a CONCERT FOR JAPAN on Saturday, April 9, 11 am–11 pm, will be given to victims of the earthquake in Japan.
Asia Week New York 2011, a supporter of the Japan Society Earthquake Relief Fund, is a collaboration of 34 top Asian art specialists, 5 auction houses, and 17 cultural institutions who are hosting a dynamic week of events. The celebration begins with the Asia Society benefit gala reception, dinner and dance (583 Park Avenue) on March 21 hosted by Honorary Chairs Renée Fleming, one of the world's most celebrated sopranos, and the extraordinary designer Naeem Khan. For tickets, call (212) 327 9335 or visit www.asiasociety.org/asiaweekbenefit.
A number of Asia Week events are focused on Japanese art for sale. Among them, Bonhams (580 Madison Ave.) will auction 250 lots of Fine Japanese Works of Art on March 22, including netsuke, inro, and a group of exquisite screens from an American institution as well as Samurai armor (some to be sold with no reserve price) and swords.
Bonhams will be contributing 5% of the collected buyers premium on each item of Japanese art sold at its salerooms this spring to the Japan Society's Japan Earthquake Relief Fund, according to the auction house's website.
Also of note, Christie's (20 Rockefeller Plaza) will offer a magnificent six-panel, gold-leaf screen depicting a "Portuguese ship comes to trade to Japan," attributed to Kano Naizen (1570-1616), in its Japanese and Korean Art sale on March 23.
Dealer specialists in Japanese art have also amassed fine selections for sale. London dealer Sydney L. Moss (Fuller Building, 13th Floor 41 East 57th Street) is showing at the Alexandre Gallery about 160 Japanese antique pieces (priced from $1,800 to $117,000 each) from prominent California collector Elinor T. Nordskog who has a penchant for inro.
Joan Mirviss (39 East 78th Street) is presenting “Birds of Dawn: Pioneers of Japan's Sôdeisha Ceramic Movement,” with a focus on three seminal founders of this extremely influential movement: Yagi Kazuo (1918-79), Suzuki Osamu (1926-2001), and Yamada Hikaru (1923-2001).
Two newly discovered paintings by Katsushika Hokusai, creator of The Great Wave off Kanagawa, and dozens of other rare and exceptional works of art, will be exhibited in JADA 2011: An Exhibition by the Japanese Art Dealers Association. The exhibition runs March 19-23 at the Ukrainian Institute of America (2 East 79 Street, 2nd fl.).
A finely curated "Golden Treasures: Japanese Gold Lacquer Boxes" at Erik Thomsen Fine Art (23 E. 67th Street) focuses on small-scale boxes of the past two centuries, a period of exceptional artistry in Japan in the medium. Also on view is a magnificent Writing Box with the Hundred Kings by Mikami Yokodo from the 1920s or 1930s.
Carole Davenport (5 East 82nd Street) has ceramics for the tea ceremony, gold lacquer boxes, and striking Noh masks as well as choice pieces from the 17th century Kakiemon kiln, the pinnacle of Japanese porcelain production, and a dynamic wood sculpture of a guardian from the 12th century, among other objects of note.
The preview party for New York Arts of Pacific Asia, on Wednesday, March 23, will be a benefit to raise funds for Japan earthquake relief efforts. Proceeds from the event will go to Doctors without Borders (suggested donation is $50).
The show, which continues from March 24 to 27 at The Market Suites at 7W New York (7 West 34th Street), features more than 60 dealers, including New York-based Japanese art specialist Flying Cranes Antiques.
Basel-based BachmannEckenstein | JapaneseArt will show Japanese ceramics and works on paper as well as a group of ceramics by early Raku Masters at Nailya Alexander Gallery (Fuller building, 7th floor).
For more event listings and guides, visit:
Asia Week New York 2011 (Asian Art Dealers of New York)
