Asia NOW’S 9TH EDITION: Monnaie de Paris | 2023
Yuree Kensaku created two large-scale paintings for Asia NOW, the 9th Edition of the Paris Asian Art Fair, held at the historic Monnaie de Paris from October 19-22, 2023. The works were created during Yuree’s artist residency at Villa Navarra in Le Muy, France, in May and June 2023.
Born in Bangkok in 1979, where she continues to live and work, Yuree is known for her vibrant color palette, playful humor, and cartoon-like characters that often carry a darker, more critical edge. Beneath their whimsical appearance, her paintings explore social commentary, cultural identity, economics, and personal reflections on life as a female artist.
Inspired by the Monnaie de Paris, one of the world’s oldest continuously operating institutions and a longstanding symbol of commerce and exchange, Yuree developed a pair of interconnected paintings exploring the movement of money, culture, and value between Asia and Europe.
One painting centers on Meawnalisa, a playful fusion of a cat and the Mona Lisa. Drawing on Asian symbols of prosperity, including Japan’s Maneki-neko (beckoning cat) and Thailand’s Nang Kwak, the work reflects traditions of luck, commerce, and financial success. Set against a landscape inspired by the lavender-colored countryside of southern France, the painting features flowing rivers, gold mountains, and symbols of wealth, alluding to the circulation of money and tourism.
Its companion painting features Mercury, the Roman god of commerce, communication, and fortune. Rendered in shimmering silver, Mercury takes the form of Marius, a small but memorable Jack Russell terrier Yuree encountered during her residency. The nearly three-meter-tall figure presides over a surreal landscape where rivers of wealth continue their journey westward. Gold mountains transform into mountains of cheese, referencing France’s rich culinary heritage, while vineyards, lunar imagery, and historical trade goods such as tobacco, salt, clams, and rice evoke centuries of exchange and cultural connection.
Together, the paintings create a playful yet thoughtful dialogue between Asia and Europe, examining how trade, mythology, culture, and identity intersect across borders. Through her signature blend of humor and symbolism, Yuree invites viewers to consider both the historical and contemporary forces that shape our global exchange of goods, ideas, and values.
supported and organized by Enrico Navarra Galerie, Paris.
Date:
23/10/2023.
