In a new interview for Artnet Pro’s “The Asia Pivot,” Xiaowen Zhu, Director of esea contemporary, reflects on how the art world continues to oversimplify Asian identities—and how institutions like ours are helping to shift that narrative.
“Asia is not a singular story to be decoded, but a plural condition to be encountered on its own terms,” Zhu explains. She highlights the importance of understanding Asia’s art scenes as deeply rooted in complex histories, ongoing movements, and intertwined cultural experiences rather than through reductive or monolithic perspectives.
Zhu also highlights how esea contemporary has evolved into a dynamic, Asian-led platform that mirrors the layered, diasporic realities of East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) cultural experiences. This involves cultivating a polyphonic, in-between space where multiplicity is embraced, enabling the organisation to contribute meaningfully to both local and global conversations on identity and belonging.