Alexandra Munroe Reflects on 20 Years of the Guggenheim's Asian Art Initiative
In an interview with ArtAsiaPacific, Alexandra Munroe, who has served as the senior curator of Asian art at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum since 2006, reflects on the Asian Art Initiative's 20th anniversary. She points out a shift in methodology towards 'global art history' and cites significant exhibitions such as 'Gutai: Splendid Playground' (2013) and 'Art and China after 1989: Theater of the World' (2017–18). The initiative, which began before market interest, showcased artists like V.S. Gaitonde and Ai Weiwei. Munroe also mentions the anticipated Guggenheim Abu Dhabi opening in December, focusing on transcultural practices. She highlights the complexities surrounding the 'Asian art' category and reveals a Mariko Mori retrospective with Mami Kataoka, urging museums to continually ask 'what now?' for relevance.
Key facts
- Alexandra Munroe was appointed senior curator of Asian art at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in 2006, the first such role at a Western modern and contemporary art museum.
- The Asian Art Initiative celebrates its 20th anniversary.
- Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is set to open in December on Saadiyat Island.
- Munroe served as the first director of curatorial affairs (2018–23) for the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
- Key exhibitions include 'Gutai: Splendid Playground' (2013), 'The Third Mind' (2009), and 'Art and China after 1989' (2017–18).
- The initiative launched seven years before Art Basel Hong Kong's 2013 debut.
- Munroe led a 2011 online petition to release Ai Weiwei.
- A Mariko Mori retrospective co-curated with Mami Kataoka is forthcoming.
Entities
Artists
- Alexandra Munroe
- Sandhini Poddar
- Xiaoyu Weng
- X Zhu-Nowell
- Kyung An
- Ming Tiampo
- Hou Hanru
- Roberta Smith
- Cai Guo-Qiang
- Lee Ufan
- Zarina
- Anish Kapoor
- V.S. Gaitonde
- Amar Kanwar
- Lee Seung-taek
- Wu Tsang
- Yu Hong
- Cao Fei
- Wong Ping
- Sun Yuan
- Peng Yu
- Ai Weiwei
- Kwan Sheung Chi
- Lee Kit
- Mariko Mori
- Mami Kataoka
- Huang Yong Ping
- Takeo Yamaguchi
- Constantin Brâncuși
- Frank Lloyd Wright
- Louise Bourgeois
- Zhang Bingjian
- Elaine W. Ng
- David Heald
- Ben Hider
- Roger Kisby
- Wendy Fisher
Institutions
- Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
- Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation
- Guggenheim Abu Dhabi
- ArtAsiaPacific
- Asian Art Council
- Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation
- Guggenheim UBS MAP Global Art Initiative
- National Gallery of Singapore
- Mori Art Museum
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- M+
- Tate
- National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul
- National Art Museum of China
- Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi
- Art Basel Hong Kong
- The New York Times
- Walker Art Center
- Walker Reader
- International Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art
- Museum of Modern Art
- Venice Biennale
- Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Locations
- New York
- United States
- Abu Dhabi
- United Arab Emirates
- Saadiyat Island
- Hong Kong
- China
- Tokyo
- Japan
- Seoul
- South Korea
- Beijing
- Singapore
- Venice
- Italy
- Berlin
- Germany
- West Asia
- North Africa
- South Asia
- Central Asia
- Africa
- United Kingdom