Abandon Stereotypes Before Going to Print

"It's Asian Work, but Abandon the Stereotypes Before Entering the Booths," The New York Times reminds readers, in the headline of its review of New York's Asian Contemporary Art Fair. Maybe they should follow their own advice. After its advisory title, the review proceeds to inform readers that "contemporary Asian art is ruled by three gods: Buddha, Mao and Warhol," which, umm, isn't that a stereotype? Another one, that Asian art borrows "a lot" from Western art but still "evokes geographically specific tensions and anxieties," is a preconceived statement that even a person who has never seen Asian artwork before will feel comfortable sharing, mouth full of hors d'oeuvre and cocktail in hand.

The New York Times review fails to mention either works that are extremely Asian (not influenced by the West) or works that do not even hint at their Asian roots (they look like they could have been created by the West).

The cutesy, toy aesthetic is not indebted to Western art traditions.












Zhang Hui
various incarnations of Beijing Wawa









Asa Go
neutral-stage-self and neutral-stage-someone
Oil on Canvas
2007











There are also works that do not reference its Asian creators.


Choi Won Jung
Various
Acrylic on Plexiglas
2007


Seon-Ghi Bahk
Point of view 07-071
Coloring on Mixed Media
2007
An aggregate-Relationship
Charcoal, Nylon Threads
2007


Drop the generalization: "Because it is an all-Asian fair, it has its own distinctive flavor."