The proliferation of international art galleries and the slew of auctions in the first half of 2012 are proof that Hong Kong has cemented its status as the market leader in contemporary Asian Art. The Hong Kong International Art Fair, established in 2007 and now run in collaboration with Art Basel, is poised to take that title up a notch. With art honcho and curator Magnus Renfrew assuming stewardship once again, this year’s fair – the fifth edition – will pull in 264 galleries from 37 territories.
As supporting media partner of Art HK 2012, we give you the highlights of the four-day fair:
Spanning two floors, the main gallery space plays host to some of the industry’s biggest names. Returning galleries include Vitamin Creative Space, Long March Space, The Pace Gallery, Pearl Lam Galleries, Anna Schwartz from Melbourne, Marian Goodman Gallery, Acquavella Galleries Inc, Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin, Galleria Massimo de Carlo, Marianne Boesky Gallery and L&M Arts. London galleries continue to play a prominent role, with Hauser & Wirth, White Cube, Simon Lee, Gagosian and Sadie Coles HQ leading the pack.
A slew of galleries from Hong Kong, including Hanart TZ, 10 Chancery Lane and The Cat Street Gallery will also set up shop during the three-day event. Prominent new entrants include Hong Kong’s Edouard Malingue and Sarthe Fine Art, New Delhi’s Latitude 28, Beijing’s Pin Gallery and Japan’s Koyanangi.
Yinka Shonibare’s Water (2010), courtesy of Stephen Friedman Gallery
Yu Youhan’s A Pocket Western Art History about Mao – Foreign Mao (1999), courtesy of Shangart
Art by Michael Fran, courtesy of Carlier Gebauer
Having made its debut to great acclaim last year, Asia One returns with 49 galleries, with each presenting works by an artist of Asian origin. The stacked line-up include Galerie Ora-Ora, Sin Sin Fine Art, Latitude 28 and Yoshiaki Inoue Gallery.
Jiang Pengyi’s Luminant (2008), courtesy of Blindspot Gallery
Art Futures promotes and showcases emerging talents from around the world. In addition to having their works exhibited, artists aged 35 or below from 35 young galleries will vie for the Art Futures Award. This year’s high-powered jury will comprise Okwui Enwezor, director of Haus der Kunst in Munich, Elaine Ng of ArtAsiaPacific and Lars Nittve, executive director of M+.
Domingo Millella’s Tomba de Re Mida
Art HK 2012 runs May 17-20, with a champagne-fuelled preview on May 16.