Asian Artists in Paris, 1920s–1940s: A Rediscovered Legacy

The National Gallery Singapore’s exhibition City of Others: Asian Artists in Paris, 1920s–1940s shines a spotlight on more than 200 remarkable works by Asian painters, sculptors, lacquer artists, and photographers who found creative refuge in Paris during the vibrant interwar era en.wikipedia.org+12nationalgallery.sg+12orientations.com.hk+12. Featuring luminaries such as Foujita Tsuguharu, Georgette Chen, Lê Phổ, Liu Kang, Yun Gee, Pai Un‑soung, and more, the show reframes a pivotal moment in art history through the eyes of cultural outsiders turned trailblazing creators en.wikipedia.org+5nationalgallery.sg+5nationalgallery.sg+5.

Between 1920 and 1940, Paris—then the global art capital—became a beacon for Asian artists seeking new ideas and recognition. Many of them were perceived as “others” by European society, yet they channeled these identities into a transformative dialogue with modernist traditions en.wikipedia.org+9nationalgallery.sg+9orientations.com.hk+9. This exhibition reveals how artists presented themselves publicly while wrestling with expectations of identity, creativity, and belonging

From early self-portraits to lacquered furniture and decorative objets d’art, these artists actively shaped Parisian modernism. They participated in salons, contributed to design workshops, and helped fuel the Art Deco movement. Notably, lacquer masters like Hamanaka Katsu and Jean Dunand collaborated with European ateliers while preserving their own cultural aesthetics

As global tensions mounted—and colonialism and war reshaped perspectives—Asian artists probed themes of identity, urban life, and belonging. Their creations became a blend of memory and innovation, bridging East and West through intimate scale and experimental forms.

This groundbreaking showcase reframes Paris not as a monolithic center of innovation, but as a site of cultural exchange—where artists from across the globe redefined modern art and challenged colonial hierarchies . As Dr. Eugene Tan, Director of NGS, notes: “These artists played vital roles in reshaping global art narratives”.

📅 2 April – 17 August 2025
📍 National Gallery Singapore, Singtel Special Exhibition Galleries

 

Dive deep into "City of Others": explore society’s margins, creative crosscurrents, and vibrant innovation from a new artistic vantage point.