Nine Galleries from East Asia Participate

Traditionally, the art market has been dominated by large, well-funded galleries dealing in a wide range of modern and contemporary art, both domestic and international. However, in recent years, a new generation of galleries has emerged, showcasing artists active in Asia with a broader perspective.


This trend is particularly pronounced in East Asia, which now wields significant influence over the global art scene. At ART FAIR TOKYO this year, we are pleased to feature nine galleries from the region.



Arario Gallery, with its expansive space in Cheonan, Northeast China, has become prominent in the Chinese art scene since opening a branch in Beijing in 2005, actively collecting Chinese contemporary art and hosting numerous experimental exhibitions. Recently, they have opened spaces in Seoul's major art districts, Samcheong-dong and Gangnam, to showcase emerging and mid-career artists from Korea and China. They also plan to introduce Japanese artists in the future.

Works by Lee Bul, Featured in a Solo Exhibition at the Mori Art Museum, Will Be Available

PKM TRINITY GALLERY, a reputable gallery with spaces in Samcheong-dong and Gangnam, has participated in Art Basel multiple times. Their Gangnam gallery, located beneath the "10 Corso Como" Seoul store, boasts a vast space and has introduced many leading contemporary Korean artists, including Lee Bul, whose exhibition is currently running at the Mori Art Museum until May 27th. At ART FAIR TOKYO 2012, they will exhibit and sell sculptures and two-dimensional works by Lee Bul.





ONE AND J. GALLERY is gaining recognition for its active promotion of Japanese artists like Koki Tanaka and its enthusiastic participation in international art fairs. Last year, they participated in ART FAIR TOKYO, and this year they will exhibit and sell photographic works by Nikki S. Lee. Furthermore, a week before ART FAIR TOKYO, a contemporary Japanese art exhibition titled "Sculpture by Other Means," featuring artists such as Teppei Kaneuji, is scheduled to open at a gallery in Seoul.


Gallery Skape, which relocated to Hannam-dong, a sophisticated residential area in Seoul known for the Leeum Museum of Art, is participating in ART FAIR TOKYO for the second time. Despite its relatively short history since opening in 2004, the gallery has steadily built its reputation by actively showcasing young Korean artists. This year, under the theme "Reality of Hybrid Existence," they will present a diverse range of contemporary Korean art, from works by Lee Hyungkoo, who participated in the Korean Pavilion at the 2007 Venice Biennale, to emerging Korean artists.


From Taiwan, TKG+, the contemporary art division of Tina Keng Gallery, which handles a broad spectrum of modern and contemporary Asian artists, will be exhibiting. Tina Keng Gallery is one of Taiwan's leading galleries, with spaces in the Daan District in central Taipei, the suburban Neihu District, and Beijing. At their debut at ART FAIR TOKYO, they plan to exhibit and sell works by acclaimed young artists such as Tsai Jia-wei, who garnered attention at the Yokohama Triennale last year, and Wu Chi-tsung, who participated in the Mori Art Museum's exhibition "The Hidden Flower."

Taiwan's Project Fulfill Art Space Collaborates with Chim↑Pom

Chi-Wen Gallery, established by the former director of Hong Kong's Hanart TZ Gallery (a gallery that has significantly contributed to the development of Chinese contemporary art) when it had a branch in Taipei, is also participating from Taiwan. This gallery actively handles works in video media, which are particularly noteworthy in contemporary Taiwanese art. As in previous years, they plan to exhibit video works by Taiwanese artists at ART FAIR TOKYO.


Gallery 2, located within the new gallery complex "Nature Poem" in Gangnam, actively promotes young Korean artists. In addition to exhibiting in the "PROJECT" section, which introduces emerging galleries, they will showcase an installation by Son Donghyunproject in PROJECTSin


Opened in Taipei's Daan District in 2008, Project Fulfill Art Space consistently introduces contemporary East Asian art in more experimental forms, focusing on young Taiwanese artists. In March, they collaborated with Mujin Production to organize an exhibition with Chim↑Pom, which will also be presented in "project in PROJECTS."







Gallery Exit, which showcases a wide range of young East Asian artists in Hong Kong, is a notable gallery established in 2008. At ART FAIR TOKYO, they will present young East Asian artists born between the late 1970s and late 1980s. This includes photographic works by Chen Wei, a photographer based in Beijing who also conducted residencies and held exhibitions in Yokohama last year, as well as video works by Hong Kong artists and two-dimensional works by Taiwanese artists.




In the current art scene, agile young artists are increasingly crossing national borders with ease, finding more opportunities to exhibit their work regardless of gallery size. Unlike the past, when international art exchange was heavily dependent on government support, it is now actively pursued on a private level, allowing collectors in various countries to directly support artists' endeavors.



I am personally fascinated by the Asian art market, which has developed uniquely in each country, separate from the Western context. I am delighted to have this opportunity to share the East Asian art scene with so many people.





ART FAIR TOKYO 2012
March 30 (Fri) 11:00-21:00
March 31 (Sat) 11:00-20:00
April 1 (Sun) 10:30-17:00
*Last admission 30 minutes before closing

Tokyo International Forum Exhibition Hall
3-5-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Tel. 03-5771-4520 (ART FAIR TOKYO Executive Committee)