2025 Han Nefkens Foundation Moving Image Commission Goes to Saodat Ismailova

Uzbek filmmaker and artist Saodat Ismailova has been awarded the Han Nefkens Foundation’s inaugural Moving Image Commission, presented in collaboration with the Museo Reina Sofía in Madrid, the Singapore Art Museum, and the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis. Ismailova’s proposal for a research-based film project set in the Soviet era explores the tension between women’s liberation and ideologies. The project will receive USD 100,000 in support of its realization and will be screened at all collaborating institutions. The jury noted: “We recognized the significance and contemporary resonance of this theme across regions and contexts, noting how Ismailova’s practice has long delved into the complex and layered collision of cultural histories in Central Asia.” Earlier this month, the foundation also launched the Eurasia Moving Image Commission in partnership with other institutions.

Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo to Host Sunpride Foundation’s “Spectrosynthesis” Series in 2027

Hong Kong-based Sunpride Foundation has announced its collaboration with the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (MOT) for the fifth iteration of its “Spectrosynthesis” series, slated to be held from February 6 to May 16, 2027. Highlighting LGBTQ+ communities in Japan and Asia, the exhibition will feature works from Sunpride Foundation’s collection, as well as loans from artists and newly commissioned works. Hosted in a different city every year, “Spectrosynthesis” has been exhibited at various institutions in Taipei, Bangkok, and Hong Kong, with a fourth edition opening soon in Seoul. Patrick Sun, founder and executive director of Sunpride Foundation, stated: “This collaboration offers an incredible platform to spotlight the voices and experiences of queer Japanese artists and allies. Together, we look forward to celebrating diversity and inspiring meaningful dialogue in the vibrant and dynamic city of Tokyo.”

Jacky Ho Partners with Bernheim Gallery for Strategic Asia Pacific Expansion

Auction house rainmaker Jacky Ho has launched a new initiative that partners with Zurich- and London-based Bernheim Gallery to drive the latter’s growth across the Asia Pacific. The collaboration is described as an “exclusive regional representation partnership,” in which Ho will “nurture collector and institutional relationships, advise on exhibitions throughout the region, and amplify the voices of Bernheim’s roster,” according to the press release. Ho, who recently departed from Christie’s as deputy head of department and head of evening sale, brings considerable expertise after 16 years at Christie’s and Sotheby’s. Maria Bernheim, the gallery’s founder and director, stated: “For years, I have believed Asia is poised to become one of the world’s most dynamic hubs. Jacky is not only a consummate professional but a true kindred spirit. In fluctuating times, his market mastery and personal empathy make this collaboration feel destined.”

Ambreen Butt, Hồng-Ân Trương, and Kunié Sugiura Win 2025 Anonymous Was a Woman Grants

Ambreen Butt, Hồng-Ân Trương, and Kunié Sugiura are among the 15 recipients of the 2025 Anonymous Was a Woman Grants announced on November 19. Founded in 1996 by artist Susan Unterberg, the annual program grants USD 50,000 funding to woman-identifying artists worldwide. Butt, a Pakistani American artist, is recognized for her labor-intensive self-portraits that merge traditional Persian art with feminist themes. Vietnamese multidisciplinary artist Hồng-Ân Trương explores immigrant and refugee narratives through a decolonial lens, while Kunié Sugiura, a Japanese photographer and multimedia artist, is known for her expressive use of classic black-and-white photograms. Reflecting on this year’s cohort, Unterberg stated: “Each year reminds me why this work matters. . . .In a period when both artistic freedom and women’s rights are increasingly vulnerable, I am more inspired than ever by this year’s recipients.”

Jenny Watson Receives 2025 Creative Australia Visual Arts Award

On November 18, Creative Australia announced the recipients of the 2025 Creative Australia Awards, with contemporary artist Jenny Watson winning this year’s AUD 25,000 (USD 16,160) Award for Visual Arts. This honor recognizes her significant contribution to Australian art over more than 50 years. Watson is renowned for her candid, often autobiographical works that blend spontaneous, intentionally naïve imagery with fabrics, exploring themes of femininity, self-identity, and memory. When presenting the awards, Creative Australia CEO Adrian Collette remarked: “These artists are bold, visionary and deeply connected to community. Whether redefining their artform or amplifying voices too often unheard, their work reminds us of the transformative power of creativity in Australian life.” The Creative Australia Awards celebrate artists at all stages of their careers, encompassing a diverse array of creative fields.

Beeple Collector Opens Art and Tech Studio in Singapore

On November 20, technologist and collector Vignesh Sundaresan (also known as “Metakovan”) launched Padimai Art & Tech Studio, a new experimental space at Tanjong Pagar Distripark in Singapore. Four years ago, it was Sundaresan who bought Beeple’s non-fungible token (NFT) Everydays: The First 5000 Days (2021) in an auction for a record-breaking USD 69.3 million—an act that brought global attention to blockchain-based art. Padimai serves as a platform for residencies, commissions, and exhibitions, aiming to foster constructive dialogue about the intersections of art and digitalization, and explore “how technology can function as cultural infrastructure.” The inaugural exhibition features Olafur Eliasson’s VR work Your view matter (2022/25), commissioned by Sundaresan, which guides audiences through six geometric virtual environments with motion-responsive moiré patterns and a minimalist soundtrack.