Welcome to The Asia Fulcrum, Cultural Fulcrum‘s dedicated section exploring the art markets, cultural currents, and ideas shaping Asia, its diaspora, and their connections with the wider world.
This edition features my column examining Asia’s cultural presence in London during Frieze Week, alongside The Asia Edit—our fortnightly roundup of essential news and developments.
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Why London is the Best Place to Experience Asia
Ever since relocating from Hong Kong to London, I have increasingly felt that the British capital is one of the best places to experience Asia. I know what you might be thinking: shouldn’t one experience Asia in Asia?
The kind of experience I mean isn’t about immersing yourself in a local Asian environment (though London has some of the best dim sum, trust me). It is about discovering new figures, ideas, and cross-cultural connections.
Only after moving to London did I realise how siloed Asia has always been. Living in Hong Kong, it is easy to become so consumed by local happenings that you forget to look beyond your immediate surroundings. Focus predictably centres on the Sinophone world and China’s overwhelming presence. While some attention turns towards Japan, Korea, and parts of Southeast Asia, exposure to other Asian regions remains surprisingly limited. Inter-Asian dialogue was relatively scarce.
London has made me realise just how much more there is to see.
