Hong Kong Art Week is here and there’s so much to see.* Thank goodness Adriana Alvarez-Nichol of Puerta Roja gallery has done the legwork for us with so many galleries and artists participating this year. 32 countries so far!
Adriana is entrenched in international art fairs and loves to collaborate with renowned galleries. She has earned the title, “Top Ten Most Powerful Mexican Women Abroad”, so we feel she’s fully qualified to give us some art tips!
Monday, March 26th
Art Fair Week
Check out Harbour Arts Sculpture Park and the Harbour front at Tamar Park, Hong Kong’s first international sculpture park. Marvel at the work of 19 international artists’ interactive displays. Finally Hong Kong has some outdoor art!
Art Central
VIP Private Preview: 2–5 pm
First Night: 5–9 pm
Central Harbour Front
Art Gallery Night by the Hong Kong Art Gallery Association (HKAGA), 6–8 pm
This event is happening all over town, so it helps to take the map of Art Gallery Night with you. HKAGA wants to enlighten people on the galleries’ work and to develop the local art community. Participants include Hong Kong’s Kacey Wong, with “Asteroids & Comets”, Adriana Alvarez-Nichol’s Puerta Roja gallery, Contemporary by Angela Li, and Sundaram Tagore.
Tuesday, March 27th
Art Basel
Along with Art Basel, Switzerland, and Miami Beach, Florida, Art Basel Hong Kong is Asia’s most prominent art fair. This year’s event takes place March 27–31st at the HK Convention & Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. Art Basel HK is now in its 6th edition, showcasing over 4,000 artists from 291 galleries.
A panel will discuss how an institution should maintain, build and edit its collection, asking what guidelines exist and how these respond to the demands that arise from specific contexts and needs.
Art Basel Miami Beach (Credit/Chris Goldberg)
Agustín Pérez Rubio, Artistic Director of Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires; and Juan Andrés Gaitán, Director, Museo Tamayo Arte Contemporáneo, Mexico City, join the Directors of Tate Modern; Los Angeles County Museum of Art; and the Hong Kong Museum of Art.
You can book tickets here from HK $250 (US $31) in advance via HKTicketing or at the door (starting from $300, or US $38). The premier pass for three days, only in advance, is $2,280 (US $290).
Gian Figure 01 2013 (Credit/Parkview Gallery)
Art Central
Art Central has an aura of being Art Basel’s younger, cooler and slightly more alternative brother. It’s not just art here, but more of a cultural hub—take in live performances, dine on Michelin-starred chef creations and attend interesting workshops and lectures, March 27–April 1.
Asia Art Archive
Guerrilla Girls fight for equality in art since 1985 (Credit/aaa.org)
Asia Art Archive is a prominent resource and facilitator for the arts. It brings together art professionals, academics and artists with organised talks, conferences, and lots of fantastic and interesting networking. Swing by the Asia Art Archive booth at the VIP opening of Art Basel.
Emerald City, 6–8:30 pm
VIP Opening Reception
Ground Level, Cosco Tower, 33 Wing Lok Street, Sheung Wan
Geometric Abstraction is fantastic and ‘Emerald City’ should not disappoint. This group exhibition of more than 40 works bringing to life a cross-section of artistic approaches. This encourages us to rethink and provide an exploration into how geometry influences our imagination.
Art Gallery night (Credit/Art Gallery night)
Wednesday, March 28th
VIP Talk, Huang Rui, 9:30–11am
10 Chancery Lane, Central
Since meeting him in Beijing, Huang Rui is one of the Puerta Roja gallery’s favourite Chinese avant-garde artists, as well as Wan Keping, a leader of the Stars group in the Post Mao era. The talk will be led by the author of The Phoenix Years, Madeleine O’Dea, at 10 Chancery Lane.
Museum Talk: The Collecting Institution: Acquisitions and Representations, 3–4 pm
Agustín Pérez Rubio, Frances Morris, Michael Govan, Juan Andrés Gaitán, Eve Tam and András Szántó
Thursday, March 29th
22F 667 King’s Road, Quarry Bay
Duddell’s—Performance and Party, 9–11 pm
Duddell’s, Level 3, 1 Duddell Street, Central
Friday, March 30th
Exhibition of artists Luigi Ontani, Zhao Gang and Matthew Monahan (Credit/HKAGA)
Art Brunch by the HKAGA, 6–8 pm
Events are happening all across town. Click here for a map of participating galleries and look for the pink sun
Artist Talk: Mexican artist Gabriel Orozco, in conversation with Doryun Chong, Chief Curator, M+
Art Basel, 11 am–12 pm
Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
One of the most influential contemporary artists in the world, Orozco has mined values from his nomadic engagement in life. Orozco will narrate his experience of inhabiting in Asia and other parts of the world across varying medium. You can view his work at Mexican gallery kurimanzutto as part of Art Basel’s Kabinett sector.
Saturday, March 31st
Art is universal (Credit/Asia Society)
Art After Party
LOVE Long: Robert Indiana and Asia
6:30–10:30 pm
Asia Society Hong Kong Centre, 9 Justice Drive, Admiralty
If you haven’t seen the fantastic Robert Indiana exhibition at Asia Society, this is your chance to discover it whilst partying the night away with live music, Asian food night market and Mumm champagne.
Sunday, April 1st
SCAD Tours and Children Workshops
Art Central
There are several timings, so booking is essential. Click here for details.
Art Central prides itself on its friendly and welcoming approach. In addition to amazing art, the fair organises activities for adults and children. Have a great last Sunday lunch at some pretty amazing restaurants, including Le Marche by Philippe Orrico and two of my Hong Kong favourites: Beef & Liberty and Limewood.
Puerta Roja Art Central, Booth B02, +852 2803 0332
VIP Preview
Monday, March 26th, 2–5 pm
First Night
Monday, March 26th, 5–9 pm
Public Viewing
Tuesday and Wednesday, March 27th/28th, 11 am–5 pm
Thursday, March 29th, 11am–9 pm
Friday and Saturday, March 30th /31st, 11 am–7 pm
Sunday, April 1st, 11 am–5 pm
*Please note that many of these events may require RSVP and an Art Basel/Art Central VIP card. Click on the image for further information.
Written By: Adriana Alvarez-Nichol
Edited By: Adriane Rysz