Nigel Ip

FOCUS Art Fair was another new experience for me. Returning for its 4th London edition last week at the Saatchi Gallery, it sought to promote contemporary Asian art from East Asia to the Middle East.

I’ve attended quite a few different fairs in this space, and FOCUS was the only one that opted for a completely open layout with no temporary walls. Occupying only the top two floors, the works on each exhibitor’s stand blended seamlessly with those of their neighbours, giving the illusion of a curated hang throughout the entire fair.

The range of artists featured was very mixed. My limited knowledge of the popular side of the Asian art market tended to suggest a high degree of practices centred around pop culture. This was indeed the case, as demonstrated by a large showcase of sculptures, paintings, and animation by the Japanese singer, actor, and artist Kento Senga centred around his FiNGAiSM project. I also spotted Harang Park’s paintings inspired by K-Pop Demon Hunters, while Sachie Yoshino’s practice revolves around goats.

This fair did surprise me quite a bit at times. Abi Dionisio’s embroidered images of young women blew me away with their intensity and detail. But the highlight was when they were paired with large paintings reproducing every thread of their corresponding embroideries.

I also enjoyed Huls Gallery’s presentation of Japanese ceramic tea bowls, each one using quite simple techniques to create deceptively complex designs and effects.

Unlike some ‘minor’ fairs, exhibitors at FOCUS did not shy away from bringing larger works. I really liked Poojan Gupta’s Folded Frequencies (2025), which consisted of empty blister packs stitched together to form a large piece of drapery. Nearby, Mei-Tsen Chen’s five-panel In Flux series (2025) took up an entire wall with its organic network of lines evoking perpetual movement. Jinah Roh’s huge AI robot head was another highlight, one that was unsettling and creepy as its eyes followed you around the room; you could also speak to it and it would respond.

Overall, I enjoyed FOCUS for its casual atmosphere and decent proportion of high-quality works on show. Most importantly, it offered a rare platform for this side of the contemporary art market to find visibility in London, a place which already has extremely few events dedicated to Asian art as a whole.

FOCUS Art Fair London (16 – 19 October 2025) was at Saatchi Gallery, London, https://www.focusartfair.net/london