OVER 200 ARTISTS PRESENTED DURING CITYWIDE CELEBRATION OF ASIAN CONTEMPORARY ART
SUNDAY,MAY 10 TO MONDAY,MAY 18, 2009

Over 200 artists will present their works at 35 museums and galleries during the sixth Asian Contemporary Art Week (ACAW), May 10-18th, featuring over 60 receptions, exhibition viewings, screenings, artist conversations and walkthroughs throughout New York City. ACAW aims to promote increased public awareness of the richness and diversity of Asian contemporary art. This year, participating artists are from virtually every region including, for the first time, Cambodia and Tibet.

“Asian Contemporary Art Week aims to celebrate Asian contemporary art, and to promote an expansive understanding of what it can be,” says Asia Society Museum Director Melissa Chiu. “This year’s event, presents the latest trends in Asian contemporary art, highlighting for example, the new vitality and increased international profile of artists from Central Asia and the Middle East.”
“Since its inception in 2001, ACAW has grown tremendously, increasing the visibility of featured artists and inciting critical dialogue about their works,” notes ACAW director Leeza Ahmady. “The new Open Portfolios format will provide participants with a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with some of Asia’s most resilient artists.” This year’s ACAW has a record number of artists participating from both the U.S. and Asia, and includes many countries whose artists rarely exhibit work in the U.S. Among the countries represented are Afghanistan, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Korea, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Pakistan, Palestine, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam.
ACAW events will be held throughout the city Sunday May 10–Monday, May 18, with each day focusing on a different neighborhood: uptown on Tuesday, May 12, midtown on Wednesday, May 13, Chelsea on Thursday, May 14, downtown on Friday, May 15, and in all boroughs on Saturday, May 16, and Sunday, May 17.

New to this year’s ACAW is Open Portfolios, a series of 20 artist talks, screenings, performances, and gallery walkthroughs that will
each focus on an aspect of an artist’s work. This gives artists the opportunity to share a part of their work that they find important, and allows viewers to explore the diverse group of ACAW artists on a more personal level. In addition, 7 selected artists will discuss their work in exclusive interviews available at www.acaw.net

This year’s Open Portfolios include: a discussion with Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev, Artistic director for Documenta 13 with artist Lee Mingwei (China) and Melissa Chiu at Asia Society (May 11); Qiu Zhijie (China) in conversation with Alexandra Munroe at China Institute (May 12); a conversation between Lisa Ross and Nan Goldin at Daneyal Mahmood Gallery (May 14); an installation and talk by Jakkai Siributr, (Thailand) at Rubin Museum of Art (May 15); a video screening with Almagul Menlibayeva (Kazakhstan); and Esra Ersen (Turkey); and Lara Baladi (Lebanon); at Asia Society (May 17). Other highlight events include a video screening and discussion with husband and wife artist team Muratbek Djumaliev and Gulnara Kasmalieva (Kyrgyzstan) at the Museum of Modern Art (May 18).

The complete schedule of events and program details, and information about participating artists and organizations is available at: www.acaw.net

Asian Contemporary Art Week is a collaboration of the Asian Contemporary Art Consortium, which includes: Jung Lee Sanders, Art Projects International; Melissa Chiu and Miwako Tezuka, Asia Society and Museum; Steve Pacia and Shumita Bose, Bose Pacia; France Pepper, China Institute; Ethan Cohen, Ethan Cohen Fine Arts; Thomas Erben, Thomas Erben Gallery; Joe Earle, Japan Society; Philippe Koutouzis, Marlborough Gallery; Esa Epstein, Sepia International, The Alkazi Collection; Alexandra Munroe and Sandhini Poddar, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum; Jack & Susy Wadsworth, Collectors; Xiaoming Zhang, China Guardian Auctions Co., Ltd.; and Leeza Ahmady, ACAW Director (Independent Curator).
ACAW 2009 is sponsored by Art Asia Pacific and Event Public. ACAW participating organizations and other details are available at www.acaw.net