Asian artists featured at Paris event

During the week dedicated to contemporary art in Paris in mid-October, emerging Asian artists participated in the Asia Now 2026 festival, which took place from October 20 to 24 at the Monnaie de Paris. The event showcased a range of paintings and artworks, with a strong emphasis on figurative art, which is inspired by everyday life and often reimagines reality through the lens of technology and material choices.

Figurative art's themes and styles

The artworks displayed at the festival often involved subtle changes to reality, such as deformation or reassembly, and sometimes carried a rebellious spirit. These pieces reflect the artists' engagement with the world around them, using their familiarity with modern tools and materials to reshape their environments into visual narratives.

Gallery Studio + Gallery's role

Céline Zhuang, founder of the Shanghai-based Gallery Studio + Gallery, highlighted the gallery's ten-year history of supporting Chinese artists in their early careers. She emphasized the gallery's efforts to boost international recognition for its artists, noting that while Chinese artists benefit from better working conditions and more supportive collectors, gaining global attention remains a challenge.

Featured Chinese painters

Zhuang presented three Chinese painters: Zhang Yangbiao, Jiang Lining, and Liu Jiadong. Zhang Yangbiao’s hyper-realistic still lifes use spray paint to invite viewers to focus on the present. Jiang Lining transforms everyday photos into black-and-white paintings, offering new perspectives on the familiar. Liu Jiadong’s work is grounded in personal experience, using fragmented imagery to convey complex emotions and memories.

Ou Ming's symbolic sculpture

Ou Ming, a sculptor and ceramicist, exhibited a ceramic and plaster sculpture titled Aesch. The piece uses water as a medium to symbolize change and aging. As the plaster absorbs and releases water, the sculpture’s color shifts, reflecting the ongoing transformation of life.

Korean and Taiwanese artists at Gallery PJ

Gallery PJ, founded by Korean Jisun Son, presented Taiwanese artist Una Ursprung, whose work explores motherhood through the metaphor of the forest. The gallery also showcased Japanese artist Shinpei Okawa, known for his realistic and surrealistic style, often using diptych compositions to create layered narratives.

Southeast Asian artists at Gallery Bao

Gallery Bao, founded by Vietnamese curator Lê Thiên-Bao, featured Southeast Asian artists. Do Hoang Tuong’s Pink Bird blends figurative and abstract elements, while Trong Gia Nguyen’s work transcribes books onto rice grains as a way to preserve memory. Nguyen Duy Manh’s ceramic pieces examine historical and cultural ties between China and Vietnam, and Richie Nath’s work delves into mythologies and personal identity.

International demand for Asian art

Gallery JD Malat, based in Dubai, highlighted the growing interest in Asian artists among international collectors. The gallery presented Japanese artist Mayasoshi Nojo, known for his soft and poetic landscapes, and Vietnamese artist Sophie-Yen Bretez, whose work reflects her personal history and cultural identity.

Emerging artists at Gallery Artenae

Gallery Artenae, founded by Noée Borey and Charlotte de Poncheville, showcased emerging artists, including Japanese artist Eri Maeda. Her sculptures challenge social norms in Japan, addressing themes of gender and identity through bold and unconventional forms.

Longstanding gallery features Korean artist

Gallery Françoise Livinec, which has existed for 20 years, featured Korean artist Kwon In-kyung. Her work explores the interiors of Korean cities and the psychic world, using layered imagery to evoke complex emotional landscapes.

Singapore gallery presents Korean master

Gallery The Columns in Singapore presented Korean master Kim Kang Yong, known for his unique technique of sand and trompe l'oeil painting. His work investigates the boundaries between reality and image, creating illusions that challenge the viewer’s perception of what is real.