Asia Now

Asia Now is an art fair that takes place during Paris Art Week in October that highlights artists from Asia and its diaspora,[1] with Asia broadly defined. It has featured arts and works from Central Asia, South Asia, South East Asia, East Asia and West Asia.[2] It was officially launched in 2015 by Alexandra Fain,[3] who also directs the fair, and is held in the Monnaie de Paris.

Asia Now combines commercial exhibitions with public programming, including installations, performances, panels, and artist workshops.[1] The first rendition of the event even included a pop-up Cantonese restaurant.[4] With its goal of introducing Asian art to European collectors[4], the fair works with well-known artists and often features many returning galleries, but also includes emerging artists[5] and focuses on bringing in artists who have never exhibited in Paris[6]. Each year, a theme or a country of focus is chosen that unites the exhibitions.[7]

Location

It was held for seven years in a private mansion in the 8th arrondissement of Paris called Les Salons Hoche[8], but moved in 2022 to the Monnaie de Paris,[9] where it continues to be held. The move encouraged certain in-situ installations highlighting and drawing from the historic location[10], a practice that has continued with two site specific installations commissioned for the 2024 edition as well[6].

History

In 2010, Fain fell in love with Asian art after being introduced to Chinese contemporary art by a friend, and wanted to bring Asia's art scene to Europe, where it was underrepresented and unknown[4]. Together with curator Ami Barak and Fain's father Claude, the first edition of the fair ran in 2015, attracting 18 galleries.[3]

The fair grew significantly over time from 18 galleries at the first edition, to 34 galleries at the second,[3] to 88 galleries at the 8th edition.[9] Originally focused on Chinese contemporary art, it has grown to include 28 different territories at the 2024 edition. [6]

The fair celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2024, cohering around the theme "ceremony." [7] Some of the previous themes or regions of focus have included: India[11], Japan[12], 'the art of living on a damaged planet' [13], 'IRL' (In Real Life, focused on emerging artists)[14], among others.

References

  1. ^ a b Qiblawi, Adnan; Article, Verity Babbs ShareShare This (2024-10-14). "Satellite Fairs Are Blooming Around Paris. Here Is Your Go-To Guide". Artnet News. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
  2. ^ "Asia Now Creating a Market for Central Asian Art in Paris - The Times Of Central Asia". 2024-11-13. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
  3. ^ a b c Mun-Delsalle, Y.-Jean. "Q&A With Alexandra Fain, Founder Of Asia Now, Paris' First Dedicated Asian Contemporary Art Fair". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-06-27.
  4. ^ a b c Roux, Caroline (2019-10-11). "Asia Now: the fair championing Asian artists in Paris". Financial Times. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
  5. ^ "Asia Now Creating a Market for Central Asian Art in Paris - The Times Of Central Asia". 2024-11-13. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
  6. ^ a b c Mun-Delsalle, Y.-Jean. "The Asia Now Fair Celebrates 10 Years Of Championing Asian Contemporary Art". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
  7. ^ a b Lankarani, Nazanin (2024-10-11). "The Asia Now Fair Marks 10 Years in Paris". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-06-27.
  8. ^ "Asia Now ... and beyond: Paris Art Week 2017". ocula.com. 2025-07-01. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
  9. ^ a b "Asia Now Paris, Europe's premier Asian art fair, moves to the historic Paris Mint". www.theartnewspaper.com. 2022-10-17. Retrieved 2025-06-27.
  10. ^ world, STIR. "Monnaie de Paris at the centre of Asia Now’s project ‘Places’ to talk about installation arts". www.stirworld.com. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
  11. ^ world, STIR. "ASIA NOW: Paris Asian Art Fair 2020 highlighted the works by Indian artists". www.stirworld.com. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
  12. ^ "Asia Now, FIAC and Paris Internationale: 2018 Walk-Through". ocula.com. 2025-07-01. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
  13. ^ "Asia Now Returns to Ocula's Online Viewing Rooms". ocula.com. 2025-07-01. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
  14. ^ White, Robyn (2019-10-14). "Asia Now To Host Fifth Show In Paris". Arts & Collections. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
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