Asia NOW Paris fair shifts focus to West Asia with conceptual reframing of Asian art geography

Since its inception in 2015 by Alexandra Fain, the Asia NOW art fair in Paris has redirected its emphasis toward West Asia, reshaping the narrative of Asian art. This year, hosted at Monnaie de Paris during Paris Art Week, the event features a program curated by Arnaud Morand, under the theme "The Edge Is Fertile." It includes four significant commissions, discussions, and installations. Morand highlights the importance of incorporating the Middle East into art conversations, perceiving Asia as a network of relationships. The gallery segment showcases Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asia, while the main focus remains on West Asia. Among the highlighted commissioned pieces are Han Mengyun's "Under the Aegis of the Moon" (2025) and Ahaad Alamoudi's "Ghosts of Today and Tomorrow" (2022/25).