How does Asian Contemporary Art contribute to what is largely considered to be an American and European context? Curator and writer
Peter Weibel asked these relevant questions: “How is contemporary art, and art in general, conceived of in such places where there is no art history and no tradition of exhibitions? What does art, as a contemporary phenomenon, mean in this respect outside a Western context? Is it no more than the most recent development of modern art or does it represent something else that demands the mediation of museums?” Anyone who has walked these same halls for the
Armory Show may question where Asian Contemporary Art lies in the broader spectrum outside of its commercial success.
Some of the stronger pieces in the show were rooted in Asian philosophies like Zen and Tao that follow their own reflective path. Ran Hwang’s
Dreaming for Joy installation was a study in Eastern meditation, where literally thousands of individual buttons were used in the ongoing process.
Ran Hwang Dreaming for JoyCurator: Liang Chong
Wu Jian’an’s
Xiantian 2006 was a stunning work of laser cut paper depicting
Chinese mythology. Respected Korean artist
Seo-Bo Park’s
Ecriture No. 040920, 2004 hung idly alone in the VIP lounge in pure stillness as if it had always been there and always will be.
Wu Jian’an Xiantian 2006 Chambers Fine Arthttp://www.designrelated.com/news/feature_view?id=37
