Asia Week (March 13 -21, 2015) is underway in New York city as dealers, museums and auction houses celebrate and promote work from across that continent. Organizers state: “The annual event fulfills the broader aim of affirming the importance of Asian art in the citywide — and nationwide— cultural scene.” The annual event first began in 2009 with a group of 16 galleries on the Upper East Side. This year 42 galleries, five auction houses and 22 museums and Asian cultural institutions are participating.
Mori Tōgaku, Kokuji henko (left, black bizen flattened vessel), Kokuji tō (center, black bizen tubular vessel), Kokuji sankakuko (right, black bizen triangular vessel), 1990. Photo by Richard Goodbody, courtesy of Joan B. Mriviss gallery.
Works on display include photography, historical artifacts, paintings and contemporary artwork. But, of course, we’re interested in the ceramics. Writing for the New York Times, art reporter Martha Schwendener states:
Ceramics have been a central discipline of Asian art from ancient tomb vessels to tea ceremonies. Zetterquist (3 East 66th Street) has a wonderful collection of Chinese ceramics from the Song dynasty (960-1279), including several delicate works glazed with a delicious minty blue-green celadon. Joan Mirviss (39 East 78th Street) is featuring Japanese tsubo vessels, which started out as storage jars and whose simplicity became a vehicle for creative interpretation and reinterpretation.
Mika (41 East 57th Street) has Japanese ceramics that range from the ancient period to the present, culminating in the work of Koji Toda, whose silver-inlaid vessels have a startling, futuristic look. Dai Ichi Arts, exhibiting at Hollis Taggart (985 Madison at 75th Street), also has a display of contemporary ceramics, including boxes that update the kintsugi tradition — repairing shattered pottery with gold to highlight the fissures — with purposeful breakage and reassembly.
Pictured below are some of the ceramic works you should look for, should you be lucky enough to attend this year.
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Kamoda Shoji, Rounded vessel with striped enamel glazing, 1978, glazed stoneware, 21 3/8 x 14 1/2 x 8 inches. Courtesy of Joan B. Mirviss Ltd.
Kamoda Shoji, four-lobed vessel with blue and black enamel-glazed abstract patterning, 1976, glazed stoneware, 6 3/4 x 6 1/8 x 7 1/2 inches. Courtesy of Joan B. Mirviss Ltd.
Koji Toda works as part of the exhibition at Mika during Asia Week. Photo by Linda Rosier of the New York Times.
Yagi Kazuo, brown stoneware vase with Korean Buncheong-inspired white slip inlay within stamped geometric patterning in the Mishima style, 1971, glazed stoneware, 6 1/2 x 9 5/8 inches. Courtesy of Joan B. Mirviss Ltd.
Splashed Jun-Yao Barbed Small Plat, Jin-Yuan Dynasty, 12th – 14th century AD, 12.7 cm diameter. Courtesy of Zetterquist gallery.
Qingbai Ewer with Lotus Petal Design, Song Dynasty, 960 – 1279 AD, China, 26 cm high. Courtesy of Zetterquist.
Qingbai Lidded Jar with Lotus Petals, Song Dynasty, 960 – 1279 AD, China, 16 cm high. Courtesy of Zetterquist.
Qingbai Pillow with Brown Flowers, Southern Song Dynasty, 1127 – 1279 AD, 15 cm long. Courtesy of Zetterquist gallery.
Akihiro Maeta (living national treasure), twist-shaped jar with lid, 2009. Courtesy of Dai Ichi Arts.
Osamu Suzuki, vessel, 1960. Courtesy of Dai Ichi Arts.
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