Asia Now is an art fair that takes place during Paris Art Week in October that highlights artists from Asia and its diaspora, [1] with Asia broadly defined. It has featured arts and works from Central Asia, South Asia, South East Asia, East Asia and West Asia. [2] It was officially launched in 2015 by Alexandra Fain, [3] who also directs the fair, and is held in the Monnaie de Paris.
Asia Now combines commercial exhibitions with public programming, including installations, performances, panels, and artist workshops. [1] The first rendition of the event even included a pop-up Cantonese restaurant. [4] With its goal of introducing Asian art to European collectors, [4] the fair works with well-known artists and often features many returning galleries, but also includes emerging artists [5] and focuses on bringing in artists who have never exhibited in Paris. [6] Each year, a theme or a country of focus is chosen that unites the exhibitions. [7]
It was held for seven years in a private mansion in the 8th arrondissement of Paris called Les Salons Hoche, [8] but moved in 2022 to the Monnaie de Paris, [9] where it continues to be held. The move encouraged certain in-situ installations highlighting and drawing from the historic location, [10] a practice that has continued with two site specific installations commissioned for the 2024 edition as well. [6]
In 2010, Fain fell in love with Asian art after being introduced to Chinese contemporary art by a friend, and wanted to bring Asia's art scene to Europe, where it was underrepresented and unknown. [4] Together with curator Ami Barak and Fain's father Claude, the first edition of the fair ran in 2015, attracting 18 galleries. [3]
The fair grew significantly over time from 18 galleries at the first edition, to 34 galleries at the second, [3] to 88 galleries at the 8th edition. [9] Originally focused on Chinese contemporary art, it has grown to include 28 different territories at the 2024 edition. [6]
The fair celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2024, cohering around the theme "ceremony." [7] Some of the previous themes or regions of focus have included: India, [11] Japan, [12] 'the art of living on a damaged planet', [13] 'IRL' (In Real Life, focused on emerging artists), [14] among others.