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Asia Society and Museum Announces March Exhibitions

New York, NY – A pioneer in groundbreaking exhibitions of both traditional and contemporary Asian and Asian-American art, Asia Society and Museum provides the ultimate multicultural experience this March.

Located on the Upper East Side, at Park Avenue and 70th Street, Asia Society and Museum is known for its collection of masterpiece-quality works. In the early 1990s, the museum was among the first in the country to establish a contemporary Asian art program to discover and support contemporary Asian and Asian-American artists. With locations around the world and a center in New York City, Asia Society presents a vibrant array of programs, including films, performances, artist conversations and literary discussions. It also brings together policy experts, business leaders and government officials for discussions on current issues, breaking news and more.

Additionally, their Garden Court Café offers a savory Asian–inspired menu, and their AsiaStore, rated as one of the City’s top museum shops by Zagat’s, sells one-of-a-kind jewelry, textiles and home decor crafted by talented Asian and Asian-American designers. Every purchase supports Asia Society’s mission of strengthening relationships and promoting understanding among the people, leaders and institutions of the United States and Asia.

Melissa Chiu, Vice President of Global Art Programs and the museum’s director, said: “We are thrilled to be NYC & Company’s Culture Spot for the month of March. With Asia Week and Asian Contemporary Art Week happening, March is an exciting time to explore Asian arts and culture.”

“The historically rich collections and exhibitions of Asia Society and Museum are a cultural beacon for visitors who travel from across the globe to marvel at these works of art from the East,” said Barbara Lorber of the NYC & Company Foundation. “The exhibitions on display are keys to the past that unlock the beauty of many diverse and ancient cultures. NYC & Company is proud to name the museum our Culture Spot for March. We invite everyone to take advantage of the ‘bring a friend for free’ discount for the month of March.”

A Prince’s Manuscript Unbound: Muhammad Juki’s “Shahnamah” displays miniature illustrations from a 15th-century Persian manuscript made for the Timurid prince Muhammad Juki. This is the first time that the complete set of illustrations have been exhibited together in the United States.

A Longing for Luxury: Chinese Ceramics from the Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection includes exemplary imperial wares from the Song through Qing dynasties.

Also on tap, on Wednesday, March 2, Asia Society and Museum presents A Tribute to Jafar Panahi and Creative Expression in Iran, a special panel discussion highlighting the cinematic achievements of the filmmaker and exploring the current state of creative expression in Iran. The event is part of a retrospective of Panahi’s films, including Crimson Gold and The Circle. His films are known for their use of nonprofessional actors playing characters very much like themselves and their depiction of the struggles of people at the margins of Iranian society.

On Monday, March 28, Asia Society and Museum will host Ushio Shinohara and Tomokazu Matsuyama: Neo-Dada Mix / Remix, a discussion between the two New York–based Japanese artists. They will talk about Japanese history and culture and their own work, which, in the dada tradition, breaks up, reshapes and remixes images from Japanese art and cultural artifacts.

The “bring a friend for free” discount on admission at Asia Society and Museum is valid from March 1 to 31. This offer may not be combined with any other offer, discount or promotion, and it is not valid for special ticketed events. A discount coupon will be available during the entire month at the Official NYC Information Centers in Midtown, Times Square and Harlem, and at the Official NYC Information Kiosks in Chinatown and at City Hall. Coupons and additional details about the special offer will also be available at nycgo.com/culturespot starting March 1. (Visitors can also receive the discount by mentioning the promotion code “Culture Spot” at the reception desk.)

FEATURED EVENTS AT ASIA SOCIETY AND MUSEUM IN MARCH:

A Tribute to Jafar Panahi and Creative Expression in Iran
March 2, 6:45pm. Free
The panel highlights the cinematic achievement of filmmaker Jafar Panahi and explores the current state of creative expression in Iran. The moderator, Hamid Dabashi, is a professor of Iranian studies and comparative literature at Columbia University; panelists include Hadi Ghaemi, executive director of the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran; Negar Mottahedeh of Duke University; and Richard Peña, program director of the Film Society of Lincoln Center. This series is part of Creative Voices of Islam in Asia, a three-year initiative made possible by the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art.

Crimson Gold
March 4, 6:45pm. Dir. Jafar Panahi. Iran. 2003, 95 min. 35mm. In Persian with English subtitles. Free
Hussein, a veteran of the Iran-Iraq war, rides his motorcycle in Tehran delivering pizza. His job takes him to wealthy homes where he witnesses firsthand the life of the privileged. His day-to-day experiences leave him feeling invisible and humiliated. Circumstances lead to a violent robbery in a jewelry store, where Hussein treads a final destructive path. Starring a real-life pizza delivery man, Crimson Gold takes a sharp look at economic disparity in a society where unrest is always waiting to explode. The screenplay, written by Abbas Kiarostami, is based on actual events. The film will be introduced by Hamid Dabashi, a professor of Iranian studies and comparative literature at Columbia University.

The Circle
March 11, 6:45pm. Dir. Jafar Panahi. Iran. 2000, 91 min. 35 mm. In Persian with English subtitles. Free
Several women, each having spent time in jail, find themselves in the punishing bustle of Tehran. One woman tries to return home but cannot get on a bus unaccompanied by a close male relative. Another woman is threatened with violence as she seeks an abortion. Others take desperate measures to find money. All are trapped in a circle of fate for women living in an oppressive society, whether in or out of jail. The film will be introduced by Negar Mottahedeh, a professor of literature at Duke University.

Ushio Shinohara and Tomokazu Matsuyama: Neo-Dada Mix / Remix
March 28, 6:30pm. Free. Seating is limited; tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
New York–based Japanese artists Ushio Shinohara and Tomokazu Matsuyama explore Japanese culture and history in a lively discussion. Shinohara achieved iconic status as a neo-dada artist in Japan in the late 1950s and moved to New York in 1969. Matsuyama, who has lived in New York since 2001, breaks up, remixes and reshapes images of Japanese art. The discussion will be moderated by Miwako Tezuka, the museum’s associate curator, and is presented in collaboration with Ethan Cohen Fine Arts.

About Asia Society and Museum: Asia Society is the leading global and pan-Asian organization working to strengthen relationships and promote understanding among the people, leaders and institutions of the United States and Asia. We seek to increase knowledge and enhance dialogue, encourage creative expression and generate new ideas across the fields of arts and culture, policy and business, and education.

Image: The Robert W. Miller Family Staircase, Asia Society and Museum © Thomas Loof

Hours: Tue.–Thurs., 11:00am–6pm; Fri., 11:00am–9pm; Sat. and Sun., 11:00am–6pm. Admission: $10; seniors, $7; students with valid ID, $5; members and children under 16, free. Location: 725 Park Ave. (at E. 70th St.) Directions: Subway: 6 to 68th St./Hunter College. Bus: M1, M2, M3, M4 to Madison Ave. and E. 70th St; M101, M102 to Lexington Ave. and E. 70th St.; M72 to Madison Ave. and E. 72nd St.; M66 to Madison Ave. and E. 68th St. Please visit tripplanner.mta.info for a custom itinerary with the most updated travel information.

For more information call 212-288-6400 or visit asiasociety.org.

Produced by the NYC & Company Foundation, the Culture Spot program promotes cultural tourism in all five boroughs. By spotlighting a different arts organization each month, the program encourages visitors to discover the cultural opportunities available throughout New York City. For more information, visit nycgo.com/culturespot.

About NYC & Company: NYC & Company is the official marketing, tourism and partnership organization for the City of New York, dedicated to maximizing travel and tourism opportunities throughout the five boroughs, building economic prosperity and spreading the positive image of New York City worldwide.

The NYC & Company Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable and educational organization whose mission is to support tourism to New York City by promoting the arts and cultural organizations that make visiting New York City a special and exciting experience. Since its inception in 1999, the foundation has focused on educating domestic and international audiences about the vibrant and diverse cultural community throughout New York City.

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