To my own surprise, I did not know that prior to World War II the color pink was once associated with masculinity. Upon reading and viewing Yoon’s photographs from her Pink and Blue project I wonder even more how much we have failed to question ourselves on so many things we have come to accept so readily.

“Who is Lau Fu Zi?” If you pose this question to a Chinese person, his or her response would perhaps be, “Are you kidding?” followed by an awkward and incredulous silence. The truth is that even a seven-year-old child would be able to identify this figure—the protagonist of an enduring Chinese comic series. 

The young British artist James Richards, known for his atmospheric collages of grainy analogue video, recently made headlines as one of the four shortlisted nominees for the prestigious Turner Prize, an annual award presented by the Tate gallery in London. Just a few days after the announcement, Richards was in China to attend the opening of his first exhibition in the country, “Of Disturbance,” at Magician Space in Beijing’s 798 art district. His visit to China also included a series of screenings and symposia, co-organized by Magician Space and London-based arts organization Electra, at the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing, as well as at OCAT Xi’an, OCAT Shenzhen and the Asia Society in Hong Kong. ArtAsiaPacific caught up with Richards to chat about his work, his experiences in China and his thoughts on the 2014 Turner Prize.

South Asia is described by many in the art world as being “the next big thing.” With more and more artists and museums popping up, increased attention has been focusing on the rapidly emerging Asian art scene. 

In May, Art Basel in Hong Kong brought with it the many collectors, curators, journalists and art enthusiasts who follow in its wake. Galleries across the city—some participating in the fair, some not—strove to rise to the occasion. The Pedder Building was no exception, with all six galleries putting forth shows to mark the occasion. With the exception of two, they are on through the end of the month.