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ART
Asia Week’s Virtual ‘Redux’
This year’s edition of Asia Week, the annual convergence of auctions, museum shows and private dealer exhibitions that provides a tour of the artistry of several ancient cultures, was mostly forging ahead despite the coronavirus. But that plan didn’t work out: Gallery shows were cut short, and auctions were postponed. Finally, after some retooling and collaborating with institutions such as Bonham’s to conduct online sales, the cultural-festival-cum-trade-fair has come up with a virtual version (on view through July 31 at asiaweekny.com; click on “Summer Redux”).
Featuring single pieces from more than three dozen galleries, the collection spans the continent and a millennium. Among the highlights: a gorgeous bamboo sculpture by Fujitsuka Shosei; a lush gold ring encrusted with jewels; fine carpets; silk robes; and a fascinating pair of vases by Kazuhito Kawai and Geejo Lee. Mr. Lee’s work — square, white and marked with extra lines and edges — is like a minimal Constructivist painting come to life. Mr. Kawai’s is a gaudy explosion of color, a bulbous, oozing, red and yellow pile topped with what looks like rainbow sprinkles. Needless to say, they go together nicely.
WILL HEINRICH