Chi Too, 1981–2026
Malaysian artist chi too, a self‑taught multidisciplinary creator, died on March 7 at age 44 in his Kuala Terengganu studio. Emerging in the late 2000s, he became a pivotal figure among young artists exploring painting, performance, video, sound and text. His practice blended humor with serious research, tackling community narratives, environmental concerns and everyday life. chi too’s final solo show, “It Is What Is It,” opened at The Back Room in 2024, shortly before his passing.
Jeamin Cha Wins 21st Hermès Foundation Missulsang
Korean media artist Jeamin Cha has been awarded the 21st Hermès Foundation Missulsang. The biannual prize grants her KRW 30 million (about $200,000) and production support for a solo show at Atelier Hermès in Seoul. Cha, known for video‑based works that...
Cultural Institutions in Beirut Suspend Operations Amid Escalating Conflict
Several major cultural venues in Beirut, including the Sursock Museum and Beirut Art Center, have halted public programming as the Israel‑Hezbollah confrontation intensifies. The conflict, sparked by Hezbollah’s March 1 rocket launch, prompted Israeli airstrikes that have killed at least 72...
Tehran’s UNESCO-Listed Golestan Palace Damaged by US-Israeli Strikes
Tehran’s Golestan Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was damaged by a missile strike on March 1 amid escalating US‑Israeli attacks on Iran. The blast shattered windows, cracked glass, and buckled asphalt within the palace’s buffer zone. Iranian officials have secured...
Faig Ahmed to Represent Azerbaijan at 2026 Venice Biennale
Faig Ahmed will represent Azerbaijan at the 61st Venice Biennale with a solo presentation titled “The Attention.” Curated by Islamic‑art scholar Gwendolyn Collaço, the show intertwines Azerbaijan’s ancient carpet weaving with contemporary quantum‑technology installations, including *I Can Contain Both Worlds...
Editor’s Letter: Beings in Transition
ArtAsiaPacific’s 2026 issue examines artists confronting bodily, ecological, and geopolitical transitions. It spotlights late Chinese‑American painter Ching Ho Cheng, whose process‑driven abstractions will appear in Seoul’s Art Sonje Center, and Korean roboticist Geumhyung Jeong, whose animatronic sculptures blur human‑machine boundaries....
Mari Katayama Wins Inaugural Mori Art Award
Mari Katayama was named the inaugural winner of the Mori Art Award, a biennial prize established by the Mori Contemporary Art Foundation in 2025. The award, aimed at elevating mid‑career Japanese artists, grants a JPY 10 million cash prize and a solo...
Issue 147
ArtAsiaPacific announced the launch of Issue 147, its March/April 2025 edition, priced at US$25. The issue joins a series of recent releases, including Issue 146, 145, and the Almanac 2026. The publisher also promotes related titles such as "Contingent Worlds:...