Collectors have been drawn to Ventura’s imaginative works, paying top dollar to acquire his paintings and sculptures, many of which are found in private collections. In December 2022, the artist’s “Blind Mechanism” sold for over US$1 million at Leon Gallery’s auction in Manila. In 2021, “Party Animal” sold for almost US$2 million at Christie’s in Hong Kong. And in 2011, “Grayground” sold for US$1.1 million at Sotheby’s Modern and Contemporary Southeast Asian Paintings auction, setting a record for Southeast Asian contemporary art, and rocketing the Filipino artist to acclaim. 

Read Ronald Ventura’s full profile on Asia’s Most Influential

Sculpture Ming Ju manipulates the foundations of nature—wood, metal, rock—to express universal humanity. In 2022, the artist presented works, including pieces from his famous Taichi and Living World series, in Living World: Ju Ming Solo Exhibition at the Asia Art Center in Taipei. Through the artist’s deft cuts, a ballet figure of finely polished stainless steel conveys the elegance of maintaining balance. Meanwhile, a tight grouping of blocky bronze figures, dressed in suits and armed with umbrellas, captures the nuances of city living. 

His largest artwork, however, may be the 11-hectare Ju Ming Museum. The artist dreamed up the outdoor sculpture park, from its architecture to its landscapes, to become the home of more than 2,000 of his works. A testament to not only Ming Ju’s mastery but also of Taiwan’s excellence in the arts, the museum won the Best Practice Award from the International Council of Museums in 2017.

Read Ming Ju’s full profile on Asia’s Most Influential

“All art are toys, all toys are art,” proclaims contemporary artist Michael Lau. Indeed, the Hong Kong-based artist champions both expressions in works that use levity to reveal emotion. He found success by combining his passion for toy collecting (Lau collects G.I. Joe action figures) and the vibe of ’90s street culture to create art figures, which he presented in his well-received Gardener exhibit in 1999. From there, Lau went on to create and popularise collectable vinyl sculptures, earning him the nickname Godfather of Designer Toys.

Lau’s work has attracted the most coveted brands, with Nike, A Bathing Ape, One Piece and Fendi collaborating with the artist to reimagine, say, the Fendi Peekaboo bag set in resin and painted fluorescent pink. The artist continues his exploration of art toys in his solo exhibit, Splendid Park, at the K11 Musea (ongoing until March 5, 2023), where he presents 39 paintings and sculptures from 2011 to 2022. An ode to spring, the show blooms with flowers and also emphasises Lau as a skilled painter (make sure to find all the hidden details in “Blossom is Awesome”).

Read Michael Lau’s full profile on Asia’s Most Influential

Artist Yee I-Lann uses photo collages, film and weaves to explore topics including colonial and post-colonial experiences in Southeast Asia. In October 2022, the artist presented a series of black-and-white photographs, as well as large-scale tikar or woven mats, at Silverlens Gallery in New York. Yee I-Lann, who was born in Kota Kinabalu, worked with inland and sea communities to create the tikar mats—a partnership that enriched both the artist and the communities, with locals expanding their economic opportunities through the project. 

The artist, who co-founded the art collective LabDNA and is part of the art and architecture platform Kota-K Studio, will next present her works in the upcoming Gwangju Biennale, which is set to run from April 7 to July 9, 2023.

Read Yee I-Lann’s full profile on Asia’s Most Influential

Tatler Asia's Most Influential is the definitive list of people shaping our world today. Asia's Most Influential brings together the region's most innovative changemakers, industry titans and thought leaders who are driving positive impact in Asia and beyond. View the full list here.

NOW READ

How Asian women in STEM are contributing to scientific progress

For Asia’s top chocolate makers, it’s about far more than just making sweets

Asia’s top medical minds who are leading the fight against cancer