In spite of dealer woes in finding authentic Asian antiques, the variety of objects at the uptown fair, ranging from arms and armor, basketwork and bronzes to furniture, sculpture and contemporary painting and photography, is overwhelming. It takes more than one visit to experience all the treasures that abound. The setting too is usually enchanting, with well-lit floral centerpieces, carpeted walkways and handsomely designed, elaborate booths. The 55 exhibitors are among the world’s leading specialist dealers in Near Eastern, Indian, Himalayan, Tibetan, Southeast Asian and Far Eastern art from antiquity to the present.

Other highlights of Asia Week are the small-scale, often quite specialized gallery exhibits throughout the city. Auction house activity also tends to be lively and worthwhile. Christie’s will hold three major sales on March 28, 29 and 30 for Japanese and Korean art, Chinese works of art and Indian and Southeast Asian Art, respectively. Sotheby’s sales will be March 28, 29 and 30, for the Jucker Collection of Nepalese, Tibetan and Himalayan paintings, Indian and Southeast Asian Art, and Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art. For the first time, Sotheby’s is initiating a separate sale on March 31 of contemporary Asian art, focusing on China, Korea and Japan. Responding to the market’s interest in contemporary work, Sotheby’s has created a new Chinese contemporary art department and appointed Xiaoming Zhang as its specialist. Viewing at the auction houses is open to the public a week before the sales.

From May 22 to 27, another celebration of Asian art will take place citywide. Asian Contemporary Art Week presents works produced by leading and emerging Asian artists who still live and work in their home countries as well as those who have emigrated. Lectures, exhibitions, receptions and performances are scheduled throughout the week in different parts of the city each evening. “The major focus this year will be on new video art,” says Melissa Chiu, director of Asia Society Museum. “We believe that some of the most challenging and intriguing work by Asian artists is in this new media.” Like the March Asia Week, the exhibition of video works presented in galleries and museums will be vetted by prominent curators.

Art & Antiques’ New York correspondent Bobbie Leigh specializes in Asian topics.

ASIA WEEK, NEW YORK, NEW YORK CHECKLIST

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(Area code 212 unless otherwise noted)

The following list represents a sampling of Asia Week events; for a longer list of gallery and museum exhibitions, and auction information, visit www.ArtandAntiques.net.

FAIRS

International Asian Art Fair
Seventh Regiment Armory
Park Ave. at 67th St.
March 31-April 5
About 55 exhibitors. The special loan exhibition is “Arts of the Islamic World” with a focus on “the written word.” March 30 opening benefits Asia Society. April 2 panel discussion features experts in the field of Islamic art. April 3 and 4, Asia Society's director Melissa Chiu and fair exhibitor/dealer Michael Goedhuis will give separate lectures.
www.haughton.com
642-8572

Arts of Pacific Asia
Armory at Gramercy Park, 69th Street, Regiment Armory, Lexington Ave. 26th St.
March 29 show preview benefit; March 30-April 2. About 75 international galleries.
www.caskeylees.com
532-1516

Asian Contemporary Art Week
May 22 to 27
A city wide series of events focusing on Asian and Asian-American contemporary art in New York. Activities include exhibitions, gallery receptions, lectures, performances and studio visits. Most galleries will showcase installations and video artists. For details and a complete list of galleries, visit www.acaw.net.

MUSEUMS

Asia Society
725 Park Ave.
Special exhibition is “A Passion for Asia: The Rockefeller Family Collects,” a celebration of the museum's 50th anniversary and the legacy of the Rockefeller family's longstanding commitment to Asia. Important works originally purchased and owned by family members, including objects now held in public and private collections are exhibited.
www.asiasociety.org
517-ASIA

Japan Society
333 E. 47th St.
www.japansociety.org
832-1155

Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 Fifth Ave.
The “Hundred Antiques” in Chinese textiles, Chinese decorative patterns popular during the 17th-century.
535-7710

Rubin Museum of Art
150 W. 17th St. Himalayan art from the second century to the 19th century.
www.rmanyc.org
620-5000

AUCTIONS 

Christie's
20 Rockefeller Plaza at 49th St.
March 28: Japanese and Korean art. March 29: Chinese works of art. March 30: Indian Southeast Asian art.
636-2000

Doyle New York
175 E. 87th St.
April 5: Asian Works of Art, showcasing the arts of China, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia from the Neolithic period through the 20th century.
427-2730

Sotheby's
1334 York Ave.
March 28: Jucker collection of Nepalese and Tibetan paintings. March 29: Indian and Southeast Asian art. March 30: Fine Chinese ceramics and works of art. March 31: contemporary Asian art: China, Japan, Korea.
606-7176