Asia Art Weekly News Bulletin – ISSUE 47 Week of 12 January 2026
(1) Johannes Vermeer’s Painting “Girl with a Pearl Earring” Will Head to Japan This Summer in Rare Loan
The Mauritshuis has announced it will lend its iconic painting, Girl with a Pearl Earring, to the Nakanoshima Museum of Art in Osaka this summer during a renovation period, marking a rare opportunity for international exposure of the masterpiece by Johannes Vermeer.
(2) Ai Weiwei Will Open His First Exhibition in India at Nature Morte
Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei will open his first exhibition in India, showcasing a diverse range of works spanning four decades of his career.
(3) Hong Kong Artist Jaffa Lam’s Ceramic Forest Was Inspired by the Staircases of Old Shanghai
Hong Kong artist Jaffa Lam’s latest installation, “Windbreak” (2025), featured at the Shanghai Biennale, consists of ceramic columns inspired by discarded wooden stair-rail posts from old Shanghai houses.
(4) Dib Bangkok: A Private Art Museum in Honour of Late Collector Petch Osathanugrah
Thai collector Petch Osathanugrah passed away in 2023 before completing Dib Bangkok, but his son Purat “Chang” Osathanugrah has recently opened the 7,000 square metre space.
(1) Johannes Vermeer’s Painting “Girl with a Pearl Earring” Will Head to Japan This Summer in Rare Loan
(Photo Credit: the Mauritshuis)
In an unexpected announcement, the Mauritshuis decided to lend its most renowned painting, Girl with a Pearl Earring, to the Nakanoshima Museum of Art in Osaka this summer. Created around 1665 by Johannes Vermeer, this masterpiece is one of only 37 existing works by the artist and has previously been restricted from travelling due to its status as institution’s star exhibit. The painting’s journey is scheduled to coincide with the closure of the Mauritshuis for renovations from 24 August 2026 to 20 September 2026.
Girl with a Pearl Earring ranks among the world’s most famous paintings and significantly attracts visitors to the Mauritshuis. A statement from the museum emphasized that the painting is only loaned out under highly exceptional circumstances. After a brief appearance in the 2023 major Vermeer exhibition at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, it has not travelled internationally since its world tour from 2012 to 2014, which occurred during the last closure of the Mauritshuis for building work.
The exhibition at the Nakanoshima Museum of Art in Osaka will be organized by the Asahi Shimbun, one of Japan’s largest media organizations, which previously sponsored the 2012-2014 touring exhibition. Martine Gosselink, general director of the Mauritshuis, expressed honor in collaborating with Asahi Shimbun for the Osaka presentation in 2026. Funds raised from the painting’s loan will contribute to the Mauritshuis’s renovations as well as the refurbishment and operation of a nearby building on Korte Vijverberg that the museum took over in December 2025. Dutch Ambassador to Japan, Gilles Beschoor Plug, highlighted the rarity of the painting’s travels, indicating this opportunity as a unique chance to share the artwork with the Japanese public, perhaps for the last time.
News Source: https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/01/09/vermeers-girl-with-a-pearl-earring-will-head-to-japan-this-summer-in-rare-loan
(2) Ai Weiwei Will Open His First Exhibition in India at Nature Morte
(Photo Credit: Ai Weiwei/ Nature Morte)
Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei is set to unveil his first exhibition in India this week at the New Delhi gallery Nature Morte. Running from 15 January 2026 to 22 February 2026, the exhibition will feature a diverse selection of works spanning four decades of Ai’s career. Highlights include large-scale Lego artworks inspired by iconic pieces, such as Surfing (After Hokusai) and a reinterpretation of Monet’s Water Lilies. To commemorate his debut in India, Ai will also present new Lego pieces based on Pichwai paintings, as well as tributes to renowned Indian Modernist painters V.S. Gaitonde and S.H. Raza.
Among the notable installations is Whitewashed Remnants of History of the State of Emerging Future Works, where Ai has painted over antiques sourced locally, including chairs and vases. Another featured work, F.U.C.K. (2024), consists of military stretchers adorned with metal buttons that spell out the provocative title, an artwork previously showcased at Ai’s exhibition in London. Ai remarked, “This is my first exhibition in India… although there are only a dozen of my artworks, it covers several key points that trace more than 20 years – and almost 30 years – of my creative activity.”
While this is Ai’s first solo exhibition in India, his works have been displayed at past art events, including the India Art Fair. The exhibition at Nature Morte, a gallery collaborating with Continua to showcase Ai’s work, comes at a time when India is grappling with increasing censorship under its current government. According to Aparajita Jain, co-director of Nature Morte, this show is not merely about spectacle but seeks to engage in urgent conversations around history, power, and memory – issues that resonate deeply within the Indian context.
News Source: https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/01/12/ai-weiwei-holds-first-india-solo-show-in-new-delhi
(3) Hong Kong Artist Jaffa Lam’s Ceramic Forest Was Inspired by the Staircases of Old Shanghai
(Photo Credit: Jaffa Lam and Shanghai Biennale)
Hong Kong artist Jaffa Lam’s latest installation, “Windbreak” (2025), stands out as one of the most captivating works at the 15th edition of the Shanghai Biennale. This forest of ceramic columns showcases an array of sizes, ranging from the height of a flute to towering four-meter structures, designed to evoke the aesthetic roots of old Shanghai staircases. With a mottled green and grey glaze that partially reveals the oxidized reddish-brown clay beneath, Lam creates a striking contrast between matte and textured surfaces, enhancing the visual impact of the piece.
Lam is recognized for her large-scale, site-specific works that often utilize found, recycled, or repurposed materials. Ceramics are a relatively new medium for her. She wanted to study ceramics at university but it never really worked out. She then set it aside until she went on an art residency Longquan, Zhejiang Province, in 2024. Her recent works reflect her attention to the social and historical significance of fading industries, including textile manufacturing and oyster farming. For instance, in her solo exhibition “Behind the Blue”, she transformed discarded blue plastic oyster barrels into artwork reflecting the juxtaposition of freedom in nature against human-imposed boundaries.
“Windbreak” draws inspiration not from traditional jade-like celadon ceramics but from discarded wooden stair-rail posts from old Shanghai houses that are being demolished. Lam emphasizes the irregularities and unique characteristics of each wooden piece, demonstrating the craftsmanship that defines these remnants of the past. By transposing these shapes into ceramics, Lam pays homage to nature’s bounty while exploring themes of community and heritage. Each ceramic column represents an individual story, with varying postures that suggest an unseen force at work. As she prepares for her new solo exhibition at Axel Vervoordt Gallery in March, Lam continues to focus on personal history and emotional depth in her art, affirming her commitment to celebrating people and their legacies.
News Source: https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3339719/hong-kong-artist-jaffa-lams-ceramic-forest-inspired-old-shanghai-staircases
(4) Dib Bangkok: A Private Art Museum in Honour of Late Collector Petch Osathanugrah
(Photo Credit: W Workspace/ Dib Bangkok)
Dib Bangkok, a new private art museum in Thailand, has officially opened in tribute to the late collector Petch Osathanugrah, who passed away in 2023 before completing the project. His son, Purat “Chang” Osathanugrah, has brought the 7,000-square-meter museum to life, housed in a beautifully transformed 1980s steel warehouse designed by Thai architect Kulapat Yantrasast. Chang, now leading the family office and serving as president of Bangkok University, reflects on the significance of the museum, which embodies a long-held dream of his father’s.
The museum addresses the lack of major contemporary art institutions in Thailand, described by art director Stefano Rabolli Pansera as “a solar system without a sun” until Dib Bangkok’s establishment. This museum marks a crucial addition to Bangkok’s evolving art scene, joining initiatives like the Bangkok Art Biennale and Khao Yai Art. Chang acknowledges the absence of government support, noting a spontaneous cultural renaissance is unfolding, making the museum an essential hub for artistic engagement and exploration.
Dib Bangkok’s inaugural exhibit, titled “(In)visible Presence”, features 81 works from 40 artists, including significant pieces by Thai and renowned international artists such as Anselm Kiefer and Louise Bourgeois. Among the standout works is an installation by the late artist Montien Boonma, who was a focus of Petch’s collection. The museum’s architecture, influenced by spiritual themes, creates a serene environment that encourages reflection and connection with art, embodying Petch’s vision and legacy in its design and collections.
