Komang Sindu Putra, ‘Burn the Libido’, 2010. Image courtesy H Gallery.

In its 24th annual edition, Asia’s longest-running art fair, Art Taipei, will run from 20 to 23 October at the Taipei World Trade Center. Featuring a diverse set of 120 galleries from 15 different countries including Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Japan and Korea, the exhibition will showcase nearly 3,000 pieces from emerging and established artists.

In accordance with this year’s theme, ‘Asian Vision’, Art Taipei 2017 will put the spotlight on new contemporary styles from Asia, maintaining its commitment to promoting diversity in the Asian art scene and connecting art markets between countries in Asia. As with past editions, the fair will be divided into four sections: Galleries, the main exhibition area; Public, which will showcase large-scale public art; Future, which will focus on young and emerging talents; and Frontier, which will feature new, unconventional art trends that diverge from tradition.

Major galleries return as the focus of this year’s fair. Whitestone Gallery, a Japanese gallery which has recently opened a branch in Taipei, will show works by Gutai, the most influential art group in post-war Japan. Massimo De Carlo, with gallery spaces in Milan, London and Hong Kong, will also be participating in Art Taipei for the first time, exhibiting a variety of works by Lee Kit, Yan Pei-Ming, Lucio Fontana, Enrico Castellani and John Armleder.

Yan Pei-Ming, ‘Grey Young Frida Kahlo Sitting On A Chair’, 2016. Image courtesy Massimo De Carlo.

In the spirit of this year’s theme, Asia Art Center will feature artists from the East divided into two categories: ‘The Pioneers of Modernism’ and ‘Classic Masters’, with works by artists such as Jiang Ji’an, Sanyu, Gao Xingjian, Yang Chihung, and Li Chen. Similarly, Soka Art Center will present works by six artists from three different countries in Asia, reflecting their different histories, cultures and social realities.

Other highlights include Geng Jianyi, represented by ShanghART, recipient of the Artist of the Year Award from Award of Art China, and a solo exhibition by Eslite Gallery, focusing on the works of late artist Tommy Chen, founder of Tong Fang Art Group. There is also Metaphysical Art Gallery from Taiwan, which will present well-known Asian contemporary artists such as U-Ram Choe from South Korea, Yayoi Kusama from Japan, and Tao Wen-Yueh from Taiwan.

Wei Chen, ‘Fresh Paint’, 2017. Image courtesy ShanghART.

Within the Future section, visitors can look forward to two special features: ‘Made in Taiwan Young Artist Discovery’, which spotlights young local talents under 35 years old, and ‘Bad Painting’ by Pow Martinez, who intentionally twists portraits and breaks down city scenery to challenge traditional concepts of form and aesthetics, presented by Silverlens Galleries. In Frontier, Singapore gallery Ikkan Art Gallery will bring a series of four single-channel video works, titled ‘Fleeting Flower Series’ by Japanese art group Teamlab, which combines dreamy Japanese aesthetics with cutting-edge digital technology.

Visitors can also look forward to video installations, site-specific works, and performance art in the Public section. Curated by internationally-acclaimed curator Annie Ivonova, the section will feature works that break away from the mold of conventional ideas of public art.

This edition of Art Taipei will also include art lectures on the topic ‘The Rise of Private Art Museums’, organised in collaboration with recognised local and foreign private art institutions.

More information at art-taipei.com/2017/en/.