Art world heads for Hong Kong
The global art market has been gradually shifting from the financial-crisis-hit Europe and America to emerging Asia over the last few years.
Among Asian countries, many say that Hong Kong has emerged with the most clout. This week is a chance to see why, as the city accommodates three mega art events: the Hong Kong International Art Fair, Asia Auction Week and Hong Kong Christie’s auction on Asian contemporary art.
Hong Kong International Art Fair
The third Hong Kong International Art Fair began its four-day run on Thursday at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center. Also known as Art HK, the fair is gaining acclaim as the new Art Basel.
Art HK stumbled a bit after its first year in 2008 as Lehman Brothers, its supporter at the time, went bankrupt, but regained strength after last year’s success. The size of the fair has grown with each edition. This year, 150 galleries from 28 countries are participating, compared to the 101 galleries from 21 countries that were present in 2008. Deutsche Bank is supporting this year‘s fair.
“Not many expected Asian art scene would become this important. World’s No. 1 art fairs like Art Basel in Swiss, Miami Basel in U.S. have been slowing down in recent years while Hong Kong International Art Fair is prospering. Important galleries in New York and London are preparing long-term plans for Asia,” said Magnus Renfrew, director of Art HK.
More than 2,000 art works by over 500 artists are featured at the fair, from the world’s prominent galleries like Gagosian Gallery in the U.S. and White Cube in London. It is notable that those top-notch galleries are turning to the Asian market.
From Korea, 12 galleries -- including Gallery Hyundai, Gana Art Gallery, Kukje Gallery, Hakgojae Gallery, Gallery In, The Columns, Park Ryu Sook Gallery, Cais Gallery, Keumsan Gallery, One and J Gallery, Pyo Gallery and Arario Gallery -- are participating.
“Fancy and glamorous artworks are popular at Art HK, where much of the population is Chinese. We prepared works by many artists including Lee U-fan, Lee Ki-bong, Jeong Yeon-doo, Damien Hirst and Anish Kapoor,” said Lee Seung-min, a curator at Kukje Gallery.
Gallery Hyundai is taking 30 works by 19 Korean and international artists.
“We are showcasing works by some talented up-and-rising artists, along with those by veteran artists, to show off the power of young Korean artists,” said Sung Eun-jin, a curator at Gallery Hyundai.
Asian Auction Week
Asian Auction Week which takes place on Saturday at Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Hong Kong is a chance to check out the latest trends in Asian art. It will feature 160 works of art from four countries: Korea, Taiwan, Japan and Singapore.
AAW is a pan-Asian auction event first organized by Korea’s K-Auction in November 2008 in alliance with Kingsley’s Art Auction of Taiwan, Shinwa Art Auction of Japan and Larasati Auctioneers of Singapore.
“Hong Kong was relatively less touched by the global financial crisis. We can cut additional costs and provide more various works in Hong Kong,” said Son I-ju, K-Auction’s PR official.
According to K-Auction, 75 percent of the auctioned items at the last auction were sold to non-Korean customers and they preferred works by young Korean artists.
This year, K-Auction will be offering works by Korean and international artists, including Robert Indiana, Lee U-fan, Paik Nam-june, Kim Tsang-yeul, Kim Dong-yoo and Kang Ik-joong.
Hong Kong Christie’s Auction
Hong Kong Christie’s will hold its Avant-Garde Asian Contemporary Art Spring Sale from Saturday through Sunday at Hong Kong Convention Center.
The auction will bring together over 480 contemporary art works from Korea, China, Japan and India. All the works together are estimated to be worth more than $30 million.
More than 60 works by 36 Korean artists, including Paik Nam-june, Kang Hyung-koo, Kim Dong-yoo, Choi Woo-ram, Jeon Gwang-young and Min Byung-heon will be on show as well.
“Korean artists are celebrated for their exceptional technical abilities, experimentation with materials and hyper-realistic paintings,” said the auction house.
Why Hong Kong?
The biggest reason pointed out by art insiders is that big collectors from China, Singapore, Taiwan and Macau are poised to expand their collections in Hong Kong.
Renfrew also pointed out that Hong Kong’s gateway position also provides the perfect platform for an international fair by enabling Asian collectors’ access to blue-chip and emerging artists from the West, as well as showcasing new art from Asia and around the world to a global audience.
In addition to its prime location, Hong Kong also offers the benefit of imposing no duties or taxes on the import or export of art.
“Hong Kong provides a much more convenient environment for galleries to participate in its art fair because we do not have to worry about visas or paying much tax,” said Park Won-jae, director of One and J. Gallery.
For details on Art HK, visit www.hongkongartfair.com, on AAW, visit www.asianauctionweek.com and on the Christie’s auction, visit www.christies.com.
By Park Min-young (claire@heraldm.com)
Among Asian countries, many say that Hong Kong has emerged with the most clout. This week is a chance to see why, as the city accommodates three mega art events: the Hong Kong International Art Fair, Asia Auction Week and Hong Kong Christie’s auction on Asian contemporary art.
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| “Waterdrops SH07003” by Kim Tschang-yeul featured at Art HK through Gallery Hyundai Gallery Hyundai |
The third Hong Kong International Art Fair began its four-day run on Thursday at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center. Also known as Art HK, the fair is gaining acclaim as the new Art Basel.
Art HK stumbled a bit after its first year in 2008 as Lehman Brothers, its supporter at the time, went bankrupt, but regained strength after last year’s success. The size of the fair has grown with each edition. This year, 150 galleries from 28 countries are participating, compared to the 101 galleries from 21 countries that were present in 2008. Deutsche Bank is supporting this year‘s fair.
“Not many expected Asian art scene would become this important. World’s No. 1 art fairs like Art Basel in Swiss, Miami Basel in U.S. have been slowing down in recent years while Hong Kong International Art Fair is prospering. Important galleries in New York and London are preparing long-term plans for Asia,” said Magnus Renfrew, director of Art HK.
More than 2,000 art works by over 500 artists are featured at the fair, from the world’s prominent galleries like Gagosian Gallery in the U.S. and White Cube in London. It is notable that those top-notch galleries are turning to the Asian market.
From Korea, 12 galleries -- including Gallery Hyundai, Gana Art Gallery, Kukje Gallery, Hakgojae Gallery, Gallery In, The Columns, Park Ryu Sook Gallery, Cais Gallery, Keumsan Gallery, One and J Gallery, Pyo Gallery and Arario Gallery -- are participating.
“Fancy and glamorous artworks are popular at Art HK, where much of the population is Chinese. We prepared works by many artists including Lee U-fan, Lee Ki-bong, Jeong Yeon-doo, Damien Hirst and Anish Kapoor,” said Lee Seung-min, a curator at Kukje Gallery.
Gallery Hyundai is taking 30 works by 19 Korean and international artists.
“We are showcasing works by some talented up-and-rising artists, along with those by veteran artists, to show off the power of young Korean artists,” said Sung Eun-jin, a curator at Gallery Hyundai.
Asian Auction Week
Asian Auction Week which takes place on Saturday at Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Hong Kong is a chance to check out the latest trends in Asian art. It will feature 160 works of art from four countries: Korea, Taiwan, Japan and Singapore.
AAW is a pan-Asian auction event first organized by Korea’s K-Auction in November 2008 in alliance with Kingsley’s Art Auction of Taiwan, Shinwa Art Auction of Japan and Larasati Auctioneers of Singapore.
“Hong Kong was relatively less touched by the global financial crisis. We can cut additional costs and provide more various works in Hong Kong,” said Son I-ju, K-Auction’s PR official.
According to K-Auction, 75 percent of the auctioned items at the last auction were sold to non-Korean customers and they preferred works by young Korean artists.
This year, K-Auction will be offering works by Korean and international artists, including Robert Indiana, Lee U-fan, Paik Nam-june, Kim Tsang-yeul, Kim Dong-yoo and Kang Ik-joong.
Hong Kong Christie’s Auction
Hong Kong Christie’s will hold its Avant-Garde Asian Contemporary Art Spring Sale from Saturday through Sunday at Hong Kong Convention Center.
The auction will bring together over 480 contemporary art works from Korea, China, Japan and India. All the works together are estimated to be worth more than $30 million.
More than 60 works by 36 Korean artists, including Paik Nam-june, Kang Hyung-koo, Kim Dong-yoo, Choi Woo-ram, Jeon Gwang-young and Min Byung-heon will be on show as well.
“Korean artists are celebrated for their exceptional technical abilities, experimentation with materials and hyper-realistic paintings,” said the auction house.
Why Hong Kong?
The biggest reason pointed out by art insiders is that big collectors from China, Singapore, Taiwan and Macau are poised to expand their collections in Hong Kong.
Renfrew also pointed out that Hong Kong’s gateway position also provides the perfect platform for an international fair by enabling Asian collectors’ access to blue-chip and emerging artists from the West, as well as showcasing new art from Asia and around the world to a global audience.
In addition to its prime location, Hong Kong also offers the benefit of imposing no duties or taxes on the import or export of art.
“Hong Kong provides a much more convenient environment for galleries to participate in its art fair because we do not have to worry about visas or paying much tax,” said Park Won-jae, director of One and J. Gallery.
For details on Art HK, visit www.hongkongartfair.com, on AAW, visit www.asianauctionweek.com and on the Christie’s auction, visit www.christies.com.
By Park Min-young (claire@heraldm.com)
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