SPRING 2025 Editorial

IN EAST ASIAN CULTURES, the arts of poetry, calligraphy and painting have traditionally been referred to as “the three perfections”. A selection of works spanning the three forms of art—all created in Japan over the course of nearly a millennium—are displayed in “The Three Perfections: Japanese Poetry, Calligraphy, and Painting from the Mary and Cheney Cowles Collection” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met), from August 10th, 2024 to August 3rd, 2025. The exhibition features over 100 examples of Japanese painting and calligraphy gifted to The Met by Mr and Mrs Cowles, the Seattle based collectors. Over the past five years, they have donated or promised more than 300 works from their collection, which is one of the finest and most comprehensive assemblages of Japanese art outside Japan.

John T. Carpenter, Mary Griggs Burke Curator of Japanese Art, said: “Mary and Cheney Cowles have donated important works of Japanese calligraphy and paintings to The Met, many of which will be shown publicly for the first time in this exhibition. These gifts, most of which feature poetic inscriptions or allusions to East Asian classical literature, have greatly upgraded our holdings of calligraphy—a cherished art form in East Asia.”

For the Arts of Asia Spring 2025 issue, it has been an absolute pleasure to collaborate with The Met in publishing eight scholarly articles on the Cowles Collection of Japanese painting and calligraphy. I would sincerely like to thank Dr Carpenter and his distinguished colleagues for all their hard work and superb articles in this unique Arts of Asia issue. On January 14th, 2025 in New York, Ambassador Mikio Mori presented Dr Carpenter with the Foreign Minister’s Commendation in recognition of his great contribution in promoting Japanese art and culture. Held at the Ambassador’s official residence, the award ceremony was attended by Dr Carpenter’s family, friends and colleagues, distinguished guests from The Met and other prestigious institutions, and patrons of the Japanese arts in New York. On behalf of the Arts of Asia team, I would like to congratulate Dr Carpenter for his great achievements and for this significant honour.

I am also very pleased to publish Dr Pengliang Lu’s article on the exhibition, “Recasting the Past: The Art of Chinese Bronzes, 1100–1900”, which will be on view at The Met from February 28th to September 28th, 2025. This important exhibition of later Chinese bronzes comprises some 100 pieces from The Met’s collection augmented by nearly 100 loans from major institutions in China, Japan, South Korea, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and the United States. The exhibition will thus present the most comprehensive narrative describing the importance of bronze as an art medium throughout China’s long history.

Asia Week New York, taking place from March 13th to 21st, 2025, will include twenty-seven leading galleries and six auction houses, presenting the finest examples of bronzes, ceramics, paintings, prints, sculptures and textiles from across Asia, dating from the 2nd millennium BC to the present. I am very pleased once again to be able to participate in the many exciting activities—exhibitions, auctions and cultural events—including the Asia Week New York Reception at The Met on March 17th.

I am also greatly looking forward to attending the Bonhams New York reception and viewing for their Asian art sales on Friday March 14th from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. This event will feature a book signing of Later Chinese Bronzes for the Scholar’s Studio: The Bromberg Collection by Paul Bromberg, a contributing editor to Arts of Asia. His new book has been very well received by specialists and collectors. I am confident that the reception at Bonhams will be a memorable and successful event.

Orientations Gallery and Oriental Treasure Box are returning to the 7th floor of The Nippon Club Tower at 145 West 57th Street. This year’s event, titled “Meiji, Taishō & More: Masterful Techniques in Japanese Art”, marks the twelfth anniversary of this collaborative exhibition. The show will run from Thursday March 13th to Friday March 21st (closed Sunday). High quality objects, produced by accomplished artists in the fields of cloisonné enamels, metalwork, ceramics, art lacquer, painting, basketry, carving and textiles, will be on view. Works by Imperial Court Artists and Living National Treasures are also included. The motifs build on the momentum of the trail-blazing touring museum exhibition, “Meiji Modern”. An illustrative lecture by Dr Bradley Bailey, Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Curator of Asian Art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, will accompany the exhibition on Saturday, March 15th at 2:00 pm.

The discovery of the first terracotta army pit in the 1970s reshaped global understanding of ancient China. Bowers Museum’s 2008 exhibition, “Terracotta Warriors: Guardians of China’s First Emperor”, and 2011 exhibition, “Warriors, Tombs, and Temples: China’s Enduring Legacy”, captivated audiences with these awe-inspiring relics. Bowers Museum’s exhibition from May 24th to October 19th, 2025, “World of the Terracotta Warriors: New Archaeological Discoveries in Shaanxi in the 21st Century”, builds on this legacy with over 110 newly unearthed treasures making their North American debut. In collaboration with the Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion Center and leading institutions across Shaanxi province, “World of the Terracotta Warriors” offers an exclusive glimpse into China’s political and artistic achievements before and during the Qin dynasty.

On November 13th, 2024, the British Museum announced that the Trustees of The Sir Percival David Foundation are gifting their world-famous private collection of Chinese ceramics to the museum permanently. This is the highest value object donation in UK museum history with the 1700 pieces estimated at around £1 billion. The generosity of The Sir Percival David Foundation allows this significant collection to continue to be on display and benefit visitors both in the UK and across the globe. Thanks to this donation, the British Museum will hold one of the most important collections of Chinese ceramics of any public institution outside the Chinese-speaking world, numbering 10,000 objects.

Colin Sheaf, Chair of The Sir Percival David Foundation Trust, said: “It’s exactly 100 years since Sir Percival David made his first visit to China. His inaugural trip engendered a lifelong love of its art and culture, especially the Imperial porcelains made for the use of the Emperor and his Court, which inspired him to assemble his unparalleled private collection. It’s entirely fitting therefore that, in this Centenary year, the Trustees of his Foundation should resolve that the most suitable permanent home for his Collection is the British Museum, where—on loan for fifteen years—it has attracted millions of visitors every year, accomplishing all the charitable purposes of the Foundation.

“In every respect, this gift achieves the three objectives which most preoccupied Sir Percival as he planned for the Collection’s future: to preserve intact his unique Collection; to keep every single piece on public display together in perpetuity in a dedicated Gallery; and to ensure that the Collection would remain not only a visual display of surpassing beauty, but also an inspiration and education for future generations of academics, students and non-specialists alike, attracted to the Imperial arts of Asia’s greatest and longest civilisation.”

Finally, let me take this opportunity to wish all Arts of Asia readers and friends a very happy, healthy and prosperous Year of the Snake—the animal symbolising wisdom and charm and signalling improved luck and success. I would also like to thank you all for your continued support. My team and I again look forward this year to producing more beautiful magazines with superb content for your appreciation.

ASIA WEEK NEW YORK 2025

The highly anticipated annual celebration of Asian art and culture will return for its 16th year from March 13th–21st, 2025. This event will showcase twenty-seven leading galleries, including two online exhibitions, along with six major auction houses—Bonhams, Christie’s, Doyle, Heritage Auctions, Freeman’s|Hindman and Sotheby’s.

Asia Week New York will present a dynamic series of exhibitions, auctions and cultural events spread across Manhattan. The 2025 edition promises an inspiring array of treasures, from ancient artefacts to contemporary masterpieces, offering something for every art enthusiast. Here is an interesting selection of highlights from some of the participating galleries.

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