Honoring Three Asian Artists For 'Touching Our Souls' [Photos] | Asia Society Skip to main content
  • Arts
    • Asia Society Museum
      • Visit
      • Exhibitions
      • Programs
      • Learn
      • Support
    • Arts & Museum Summit
    • Asia Arts Game Changer Awards
      • About
      • Honorees
      • Ceremonies
      • Photos
      • Support
    • Creative Voices of Muslim Asia
      • Resources
      • Exhibitions
      • Videos
    • Film
    • Literature
    • Performing Arts
  • Education
    • Center for Global Education
      • Professional Development
      • Educator Resources
      • Our Ideas
      • Asia Society at Home
      • Education For Equity
      • About
  • Policy
    • Asia Society Policy Institute
      • Topics
      • Regions
      • Events
      • About
      • Support Us
    • Center on U.S.-China Relations
      • Home
      • About
      • Projects
      • Reports
      • Past Events
      • ChinaFile
  • Initiatives
    • Arts
      • Arts & Museum Summit
      • Asia Arts Game Changer Awards
      • Asia Society Museum: The Asia Arts & Museum Network
      • Creative Voices of Muslim Asia
      • U.S.-China Museum Summit
      • U.S.-Asia Entertainment Summit
    • Education
      • Center for Global Education
      • China Learning Initiatives
      • Global Cities Education Network
      • Global Learning Beyond School
      • International Studies Schools Network
    • Leadership
      • Asia Game Changer Awards
      • Asia 21 Young Leaders Initiative
      • Global Talent Initiatives
      • U.S.-China Dialogue
    • Policy
      • Asia Society Policy Institute
      • Center on U.S.-China Relations
    • Sustainability
      • Coal + ICe
  • Countries & Regions
    • Column One
      • Afghanistan

      • American Samoa

      • Armenia
      • Australia
      • Azerbaijan
      • Bahrain
      • Bangladesh

      • Bhutan

      • Brunei

      • Cambodia

      • Central Asia
      • China
      • Cook Islands

      • Cyprus
      • East Asia
      • East Timor
      • Fiji

      • French Polynesia

      • Georgia

      • Guam
    • Column Two
      • Hong Kong
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Iran
      • Iraq
      • Israel
      • Japan
      • Jordan
      • Kazakhstan
      • Kiribati
      • Kuwait

      • Kyrgyzstan
      • Laos
      • Lebanon
      • Macau
      • Malaysia
      • Maldives
      • Marshall Islands
      • Micronesia

      • Mongolia

    • Column Three
      • Myanmar

      • Nauru

      • Nepal

      • New Caledonia

      • New Zealand

      • Niue
      • North Korea

      • Northern Marianas
      • Oceania
      • Oman

      • Pakistan

      • Palau
      • Palestine

      • Papua New Guinea
      • Philippines
      • Qatar

      • Samoa
      • Saudi Arabia
      • Singapore

      • Solomon Islands

    • Column Four
      • South Asia
      • Southeast Asia
      • South Korea
      • Sri Lanka
      • Syria
      • Taiwan
      • Tajikistan
      • Thailand
      • Tibet
      • Tokelau
      • Tonga
      • Turkey

      • Turkmenistan

      • Tuvalu
      • United Arab Emirates
      • Uzbekistan
      • Vanuatu
      • Vietnam
      • Wallis and Futuna
      • West Asia
      • Yemen
  • Current Affairs
    • Topics
      • Business
      • Environment
      • Governance
    • Programming
      • Beyond the Headlines
      • Business of Asia
    • Center on U.S.-China Relations
      • Home
      • About
      • Projects
      • Reports
      • Past Events
      • ChinaFile
  • Look & Listen
    • Asia Blog
    • ChinaFile
    • Podcasts
    • Video Gallery
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Past Events
  • Visit
    • Visit Us
      • Hong Kong
      • New York
      • Texas
    • Global Network
      • Australia
      • India
      • Japan
      • Korea
      • Northern California
      • Philippines
      • Southern California
      • Switzerland
      • Washington, DC
  • About
    • About Asia Society
    • Inclusion & Diversity
    • Background & History
    • Co-Chairs and Trustees
    • Senior Leadership
    • Global Staff
    • Experts & Fellows
    • Global Council
    • Careers
    • Interns and Volunteers
    • Financial Statements
    • For the Media
      • Press Releases
  • Support
    • The Campaign for Asia Society
    • Corporate Engagement
      • Business Council
      • Global Talent and Diversity Council
      • Rising Executives Network
      • Enhancements to Membership
      • Corporate Membership
      • Global Corporate Leaders
    • Membership
    • Donate
ASIABLOG
Search
Search
  • Arts
    • Asia Society Museum
      • Visit
      • Exhibitions
      • Programs
      • Learn
      • Support
    • Arts & Museum Summit
    • Asia Arts Game Changer Awards
      • About
      • Honorees
      • Ceremonies
      • Photos
      • Support
    • Creative Voices of Muslim Asia
      • Resources
      • Exhibitions
      • Videos
    • Film
    • Literature
    • Performing Arts
  • Education
    • Center for Global Education
      • Professional Development
      • Educator Resources
      • Our Ideas
      • Asia Society at Home
      • Education For Equity
      • About
  • Policy
    • Asia Society Policy Institute
      • Topics
      • Regions
      • Events
      • About
      • Support Us
    • Center on U.S.-China Relations
      • Home
      • About
      • Projects
      • Reports
      • Past Events
      • ChinaFile
  • Initiatives
    • Arts
      • Arts & Museum Summit
      • Asia Arts Game Changer Awards
      • Asia Society Museum: The Asia Arts & Museum Network
      • Creative Voices of Muslim Asia
      • U.S.-China Museum Summit
      • U.S.-Asia Entertainment Summit
    • Education
      • Center for Global Education
      • China Learning Initiatives
      • Global Cities Education Network
      • Global Learning Beyond School
      • International Studies Schools Network
    • Leadership
      • Asia Game Changer Awards
      • Asia 21 Young Leaders Initiative
      • Global Talent Initiatives
      • U.S.-China Dialogue
    • Policy
      • Asia Society Policy Institute
      • Center on U.S.-China Relations
    • Sustainability
      • Coal + ICe
  • Countries & Regions
    • Column One
      • Afghanistan

      • American Samoa

      • Armenia
      • Australia
      • Azerbaijan
      • Bahrain
      • Bangladesh

      • Bhutan

      • Brunei

      • Cambodia

      • Central Asia
      • China
      • Cook Islands

      • Cyprus
      • East Asia
      • East Timor
      • Fiji

      • French Polynesia

      • Georgia

      • Guam
    • Column Two
      • Hong Kong
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Iran
      • Iraq
      • Israel
      • Japan
      • Jordan
      • Kazakhstan
      • Kiribati
      • Kuwait

      • Kyrgyzstan
      • Laos
      • Lebanon
      • Macau
      • Malaysia
      • Maldives
      • Marshall Islands
      • Micronesia

      • Mongolia

    • Column Three
      • Myanmar

      • Nauru

      • Nepal

      • New Caledonia

      • New Zealand

      • Niue
      • North Korea

      • Northern Marianas
      • Oceania
      • Oman

      • Pakistan

      • Palau
      • Palestine

      • Papua New Guinea
      • Philippines
      • Qatar

      • Samoa
      • Saudi Arabia
      • Singapore

      • Solomon Islands

    • Column Four
      • South Asia
      • Southeast Asia
      • South Korea
      • Sri Lanka
      • Syria
      • Taiwan
      • Tajikistan
      • Thailand
      • Tibet
      • Tokelau
      • Tonga
      • Turkey

      • Turkmenistan

      • Tuvalu
      • United Arab Emirates
      • Uzbekistan
      • Vanuatu
      • Vietnam
      • Wallis and Futuna
      • West Asia
      • Yemen
  • Current Affairs
    • Topics
      • Business
      • Environment
      • Governance
    • Programming
      • Beyond the Headlines
      • Business of Asia
    • Center on U.S.-China Relations
      • Home
      • About
      • Projects
      • Reports
      • Past Events
      • ChinaFile
  • Look & Listen
    • Asia Blog
    • ChinaFile
    • Podcasts
    • Video Gallery
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Past Events
  • Visit
    • Visit Us
      • Hong Kong
      • New York
      • Texas
    • Global Network
      • Australia
      • India
      • Japan
      • Korea
      • Northern California
      • Philippines
      • Southern California
      • Switzerland
      • Washington, DC
  • About
    • About Asia Society
    • Inclusion & Diversity
    • Background & History
    • Co-Chairs and Trustees
    • Senior Leadership
    • Global Staff
    • Experts & Fellows
    • Global Council
    • Careers
    • Interns and Volunteers
    • Financial Statements
    • For the Media
      • Press Releases
  • Support
    • The Campaign for Asia Society
    • Corporate Engagement
      • Business Council
      • Global Talent and Diversity Council
      • Rising Executives Network
      • Enhancements to Membership
      • Corporate Membership
      • Global Corporate Leaders
    • Membership
    • Donate

Honoring Three Asian Artists For 'Touching Our Souls' [Photos]

March 21st, 2016
From left to right, 2016 Asia Arts Awards awardees Cai Guo-Qiang, Nalini Malani, and Yoshitomo Nara.
From left to right, Vice President of Global Arts & Cultural Programs and Director of Asia Society Museum Boon Hui Tan, Asia Society President and CEO Josette Sheeran, 2016 Asia Arts Awards honoree Nalini Malani, Asia Society Museum Senior Curator for Modern and Contemporary Art Michelle Yun, 2016 Asia Arts Awards honoree Cai Guo-Qiang, 2016 Asia Arts Awards honoree Yoshitomo Nara, and Asia Society Hong Kong Executive Director Alice Mong.
Josette Sheeran, President and CEO of Asia Society, welcomes guests to the 2016 Asia Arts Awards.
Henrietta H. Fore (center), Co Chair, Asia Society, at the 2016 Asia Arts Awards gala dinner.
2016 Asia Arts Awards honoree Nalini Malani (center) and guests.
2016 Asia Arts Awards honoree Yoshitomo Nara and Timothy Blum of Blum & Poe.
Warrick L. Smith (center), Asia Society Trustee, and guests.
From left to right: Dominic Ng, Chairman and CEO of East West Bank; Oscar L. Tang, Asia Society Trustee; and Hsin-Mei Agnes Hsu-Tang, PhD.
From left to right: Hong Hong Wu; Lulu C. Wang, Vice Chair of the Board, Asia Society; Dominic Ng; and Silas Chou.
From left to right: guest; Strive Masiyiwa, Asia Society Trustee; Omar Ishrak, Asia Society Trustee; and guest.
From left to right: guest, Archie Drury, choreographer Shen Wei, and Silas Chou.
Asia Society Co-Chair Henrietta H. Fore gives closing remarks at the 2016 Asia Arts Awards.
From left to right: Silas Chou, Washington SyCip, and Tom Nagorski, Executive Vice President, Asia Society.
2016 Asia Arts Awards honoree Cai Guo-Qiang.
From left to right: Ellen and Dominic Ng, Chairman and CEO of East West Bank, and guests.
From left to right: Betsy Z. Cohen, Asia Society Vice Chair and Secretary; 2016 Asia Arts Awards honoree Yoshitomo Nara; and Fumio Nanjo, Director, Mori Art Museum.
2016 Asia Arts Awards honoree Yoshitomo Nara accepts his award.
From left to right: Michelle Yun, Senior Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, Asia Society; Salim Currimjee, Director/Founder of the Institute of Contemporary Art Indian Ocean (ICAIO), Mauritius; 2016 Asia Arts Awards honoree Nalini Malani; and Fernando Zobel de Ayala, Asia Society Trustee.
Dr. Hsin-Mei Agnes Hsu-Tang introduces 2016 Asia Arts Awards honoree Cai Guo-Qiang.
Salim Currimjee introduces 2016 Asia Arts Awards honoree Nalini Malani at the award ceremony.
2016 Asia Arts Awards honoree Nalini Malani accepts her award.
David Weinreb, Francisco Aristeguieta, and Washington SyCip at the 2016 Asia Arts Awards dinner.
Oscar L. Tang, Asia Society Trustee, and Betsy Z. Cohen, Asia Society Vice Chair & Secretary.
2016 Asia Arts Awards auctioneer Ian McGinlay, Senior Director of Asia & Head of Client Development at Sotheby’s, offers a print by ChimPom during the live auction.
Boon Hui Tan, Vice President of Global Arts & Cultural Programs and Director of Asia Society Museum, places an absentee bid on behalf of a guest at the 2016 Asia Arts Awards.
Lulu C. Wang, Vice Chair of the Board, Asia Society (left), introduces Jinqing Caroline Cai, President of Christie’s China, to a guest.
From left to right: Paulo Pong, founder of Altaya Group and cofounder and director of the Press Room Group; his wife, Sonia Cheung, CEO of the Redwood Hotel Group; and Maggie Tsai, CEO of Fubon Art Foundation.
Enlarge Hide captions

 

HONG KONG — Artists, art collectors, art dealers, and members of the Hong Kong business community packed the Conrad Hotel on Sunday to honor three contemporary Asian artists and kick off Art Basel Hong Kong, a week of major art events in the city.

The artists — giants in contemporary Asian art — were named “Asia Arts Game Changers” at Asia Society's 2016 Asia Arts Awards for their transformative‎ work in the field.

Cai Guo-Qiang, Nalini Malani, and Yoshitomo Nara, three very ‎different artists from China, India, and Japan, respectively, took home the honors for, as Asia Society Vice President for Global Arts & Cultural Programs Boon Hui Tan put it, “touching our souls.”

“Artists often feel isolated and uncertain,” said Ca‎i, who thanked Asia Society for its long-time support and inspiration, and said the honor “will encourage me to be more courageous in my work.”

All three artists have been showcased, often early in their careers, by Asia Society. Nara, whose fanciful — and sometimes unsettling — illustrations of children were recognized for being “the mirror image of ourselves,” has had major shows at Asia Society Museum in New York (Nobody’s Fool, 2010) and at Asia Society Hong Kong (Life is Only One: Yoshitomo Nara, 2015).

Malani, a “champion of the marginalized,” had her work shown at Asia Society Museum in New York as a part of Traditions/Tensions: Contemporary Art in Asia (1996) and in the one-person exhibition Transgressions (2014). Cai Guo-Qiang’s solo exhibition An Explosion Event: Light Show Over Central Park‎ was on view at Asia Society Museum, New York, in 2003. His work was also featured in the Society’s groundbreaking 1998 exhibition Inside Out: New Chinese Art.

Guests at the Hong Kong event, which included Asia Society’s global board of trustees, also bid on works of contemporary Asian art, donated by the artists themselves to benefit Asia Society’s work. A standout was the painting Noble's Virtue by Chinese icon Pan Gongkai, who was also on hand for the event.

‎Beyond the celebration of today’s contemporary stars, the evening’s main theme was Asia Society’s role as a standard bearer for new artists. Said Cai, “Wherever Asia Society goes, Asia follows.”

#AsiaArtsAwards - @asiasociety Game Changers Cai Guo-Qiang, Nalini Malani, Yoshitomo Nara - for "touching our souls" pic.twitter.com/lllZuG4SD0

— Tom Nagorski (@TomNagorski) March 20, 2016

Related Links

  • The Asia Arts Awards
asia arts awards
arts
nalini malani
yoshitomo nara
artists
hong kong
asia society museum
asia society hong kong
cai guo-qiang
pan gongkai
about partners subscribe

About the Author

Profile picture for user Tom Nagorski

Tom Nagorski is Executive Vice President of the Asia Society. Prior to joining Asia Society he was Managing Editor for International Coverage at ABC News.

 @tomnagorski

Contents

  • Arts
  • Business
  • Current Affairs
  • Education
  • Food & Recipes
  • Lifestyle
  • Multimedia
  • Policy

Featured Posts

Shiori Ito, the face of Japan's #metoo movement
Asia In-Depth Podcast: The Face of Japan's #MeToo Movement
Vice President Kamala Harris and her family
An America the World Can Believe In
My Old Home
Fiction From Orville Schell: On the Tragic Sweep of Chinese History
George Shultz
Asia In-Depth: George Shultz — A Final Conversation
Facebook

Navigating Shared Futures

Visit Us

  • Hong Kong
  • New York
  • Texas

Global Network

  • Australia
  • India
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Northern California
  • Philippines
  • Southern California
  • Switzerland
  • Washington, DC

Resources

  • Arts
  • Asia Blog
  • ChinaFile
  • Current Affairs
  • Education
  • For Kids
  • Policy
  • Video

Shop

  • AsiaStore

Initiatives

  • Arts & Museum Summit
  • Asia 21 Young Leaders
  • Asia Arts Game Changer Awards
  • Asia Game Changer Awards
  • Asia Society Museum: The Asia Arts & Museum Network
  • Asia Society Policy Institute
  • Center for Global Education
  • Center on U.S.-China Relations
  • China Learning Initiatives
  • Coal + Ice
  • Creative Voices of Muslim Asia
  • Global Cities Education Network
  • Global Learning Beyond School
  • Global Talent Initiatives
  • Int'l Studies Schools Network
  • U.S.-Asia Entertainment Summit
  • U.S.-China Dialogue
  • U.S.-China Museum Summit

About Asia Society

  • Mission & History
  • Our People
  • Become a Member
  • Career Opportunities
  • Corporate Involvement

Connect

  • Email Signup
  • For the Media

©2021 Asia Society | Privacy Statement | Accessibility | About AsiaSociety.org | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap | Contact

Asia Society takes no institutional position on policy issues and has no affiliation with any government.
The views expressed by Asia Society staff, fellows, experts, report authors, program speakers, board members, and other affiliates are solely their own. Learn more.

 

 

  • Visit Us
  • Hong Kong
  • New York
  • Texas
  • Global Network
  • Australia
  • India
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Northern California
  • Philippines
  • Southern California
  • Switzerland
  • Washington, DC