ART021 HONG KONG’s inaugural edition presents captivating works from 82 galleries, with 9 galleries showing in Hong Kong for the first time. The Fair is set to welcome attendees from Hong Kong and across the world from now until 8 September.
The inaugural edition of ART021 HONG KONG CONTEMPORARY ART FAIR (ART021 HONG KONG), officially opens today, with the opening ceremony hosted at the GALLERIES section at the Phillips Asia Headquarter, WestK. Five sections spread across different iconic locations bring vibrant arts and culture programming to the city. Located at Victoria Park and Fringe Club, the free-to-public art exhibition SCULPTURE opened on August 28th, garnering considerable attention from residents and art lovers. EXPANSION at Fringe Club, as well as the VIDEOS screening programme at Asia Society Hong Kong Center, have also launched full programming, offering a distinctive experience of conceptual projects and video art. GBA ART WEEK has unveiled new exhibitions and special events by participating galleries and institutions. The multifaceted array of activities, dispersed across various locations and formats, has captivated art professionals and enthusiasts from both local and international circles, evoking a rich and vibrant atmosphere conducive to art appreciation in the city.
ART021 Group has been cultivating the Mainland China market for 11 years. The debut of ART021 HONG KONG marks not only an innovative breakthrough for the art fair brand, but also brings fresh energy into Hong Kong’s art market and ecosystem. The Fair comprises five core sections, presenting a total of 82 galleries hailing from 13 countries and regions. Among them, 9 galleries mark their presence in Hong Kong for the first time: 600 mins (Beijing), Arch Gallery (Changsha), Gallery All (Los Angeles, Shanghai), Ginko Space (Shanghai, Shenzhen), Mao Space (Shanghai), Matthew Liu Fine Arts (Shanghai), Nan Ke Gallery (Shanghai), TSUTAYA BOOKS (Tokyo), and Ying Center for Contemporary Art (Beijing, Shenzhen).
As of the release time, the VIP Preview of ART021 HONG KONG, hosted today, attracted over 7,000 visitors, with a strong contingent of collectors from Hong Kong, Mainland China, and Macau, while also attracting many collectors from across Asia and other regions. Representatives from major art museums, institutions, and foundations were in attendance, including Art Jameel, Asian Art Archive, He Art Museum, and Taikang Art Museum, to name a few.
David Chau, co-founder of ART021 Group, says, “Hong Kong is a global arts hub, and an obvious next step for ART021 Group as we look to engage and bring together audiences from around the world. The Fair provides a platform for long-term partners and artists, promoting culturally representative artworks from Greater China and Asia, and gives Asian artists a greater voice in the international art market. We would like to express our gratitude to the Mega Arts and Cultural Events Fund under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, their support has enabled ART021 HONG KONG to be held in Hong Kong for the first time. We also hope this Fair will enrich Hong Kong’s art ecosystem and bring more attention to unconventional contemporary art narratives, further placing Hong Kong at the forefront of global cultural exchange. We are humbled by the warm welcome we have received in Hong Kong, and the huge positive response from galleries, collectors, visitors, and partners across the world to our debut Hong Kong edition.”
GALLERIES features hundreds of artworks, with a highlight being the intergenerational cohort of artists dedicated to canvas and mixed media paintings. Highly respected contemporary works include: Wu Dayu, a key figure of the first generation of Chinese abstract paintings, presented by Lin & Lin Gallery; a group show featuring key paintings by Yu Youhan and Geng Jianyi, presented by ShanghART Gallery; a mixed media painting by Xue Feng, who is a dominant figure in Chinese Pop Art, presented by Kwai Fung Hin Art Gallery; a vibrant canvas by Yin Zhaoyang and Yu Hong‘s unique painting on glass presented by Each Modern; distinctive canvas’ by the established German Neo-expressionist artist Werner Büttner presented by Triumph Gallery; A selection of Zhou Chunya‘s aesthetically humanistic latest works presented by Hwas Gallery & Humarish Club and a rare painting by Luo Zhongli presented by K Space, which showcases the rich veining of brushstroke conveying a deep affection for his homeland.
Mid-career and emerging artists are also on the scene: Tang Contemporary Art Centre showcases Hong Kong born artist Jade Ching-Yuk Ng, whose mixed media works reflect the fragility and nuance of human relationships; Hive Centre for Contemporary Art presents the sought-after artist Tan Yongqing‘s striking large-scale painting; Whitestone Gallery presents Japanese artist Maoka Ueda, who creates abstract oil paintings inspired by the metamorphosis of cartoon characters; Antenna Space presents a key selection of large-scale embroidered fabrics and oak sculptures by British-French artist duo Daniel Dewar & Grégory Gicquel; Matthew Liu Fine Arts, for their first show in Hong Kong, introduces the unique paper pinhole creation by artist Fu Xiaotong, capturing light and shadow in flat form; and A Thousand Plateaus Art Space highlights the work of millennial artist Rao Weiyi, whose painting blends the characteristics of the digital age with personal emotions.
Works embedded with reflections on social progress and geospatial narrative constitute one of the key topics throughout the Fair. MadeIn Gallery displays a new sound installation by Zhang Peili, who is widely considered the father of Chinese video art. He seeks to investigate the multifaceted but limited nature of technology within the process of globalisation, utilising the medium of transistor radios. Special project ‘Thousands Lives’ by Ian Cheng, presented by Pilar Corrias, explores the nature of mutation and the capacity of humans driven by an inferential AI model. The animation of Iranian-born American artist Tala Madani, shown in the curatorial project One Thousand and One Nights, conveys sarcasm towards social alienation. Dastan Gallery features two portraits with unique pinkish hue by Iranian artist Farrokh Mahdavi, who seeks to challenge stereotypes related to gender and ethnicity through the use of colour. Making its debut at the Hong Kong Fair, Ginkgo Space showcases the ink works of Song Ling, which highlight the human contradictions in the industrial age through a surrealist approach.
Sun Life, the title sponsor of ART021 HONG KONG, presents Sun Life Pavilion at the GALLERIES section, narrating the brand’s development milestones and stories. The display includes Hong Kong artists He Junyi, Liu Jianwen, Wang Haoran, Lui Zhenguang, Lin Yusen and Zeng Zao Cai. Their works interpret Hong Kong’s past, present, and future through artistic creation, echoing Sun Life’s commitment to Hong Kong, and imagining the future with foresight and art. Also showcased are the unique works of artists Olivier Cong, experienced through a headset specially designed by Daniel Wu. Through the display, Sun Life thrives to breath together with the city, witness the historical progress of Hong Kong, and embrace the evolution of its vibrant culture.
Co-hosted by Porsche and Cc Foundation, and supported by ART021 HONG KONG, Porsche’s “Young Chinese Artist of the Year” special invitation exhibition officially opened in the GALLERIES section. The joint effort aims to create a cultural feast focusing on the fresh power of contemporary art, which also expands the exhibition to a broader stage. Themed as Time of Alloy, it not only brings together the innovative works by 12 award-winning artists of the “Young Chinese Artist of the Year” , but also includes a Hong Kong artist, gathering diverse expressions across disciplinary boundaries, and providing a place for young artists to communicate. On the opening day, Forum “Alloy Era” hosted by the curators, representatives of professional judges, and award-winning artists successfully launched. The talk explores the ever-changing development of contemporary art in the context of globalization and shares insights on the pathway of emerging artists.
ART021 HONG KONG once again joins hands with UnionPay International to focus on China and world trends to build a professional platform for galleries, artists, collectors, patrons, and art museums, leveraging the Chinese art market. UnionPay International partnered with ART021 in 2020, attracting nearly 20 top art galleries worldwide to access UnionPay services, providing buyers with convenient online payment services. With the ambition to deepen their cooperation, UnionPay International provides prominent payment and overseas shopping services for art galleries during inaugural edition of ART021 HONG KONG.
Hosted at Freespace, FORUM presents one art talk and one book launch on the opening day, bringing together professionals from the Mainland China, especially the Greater Bay Area, as well prominent voices from international markets. The talks explore the career path of artists and the market engagement of young artists, as well as sharing new perspectives on revisiting and reinterpreting art history. Over the next three days, six more thought-provoking talks and panels and one book launch will be held at Freespace. A special featured conversation between Jameel Arts Centre from West Asia and an ART021 Group co-founder will offer invaluable insights into the art industry from diverse cultural backgrounds, providing a precious opportunity for art exchange and mutual learning between the two regions.
Details and free registration are listed here: https://art021hk.infosalons.com.cn/reg/ART24web/web/#/FORUM.
The public day for GALLERIES officially begins at 3 pm on 30 August, while EXPANSION and VIDEOS runs from 29 August to 1 September. Featuring a presentation of outdoor sculptures, the SCULPTURE is free to public until 8 September. The GBA ART WEEKS brings together 42 galleries and 18 institutions, featuring a wide range of events, including guided tours, artist performances, workshops and more. Participating galleries and organisations will be presenting wonderful exhibitions in their own space.
Please refer to the link for more details: https://art021hk.infosalons.com.cn/reg/ART24web/web/#/home.
ART021 HONG KONG is financially supported by the Mega Arts and Cultural Events (Mega ACE) Fund under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. The Mega ACE Fund aims to attract and support international and large-scale arts and cultural events to take place in Hong Kong. It targets mega arts and cultural events in Hong Kong organised by the private sector or non-governmental organisations, with a view to developing Hong Kong into an arts and cultural metropolis, providing opportunities for the arts and cultural sector to flourish, as well as fostering Hong Kong’s development as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.
Book your tickets here: https://cultural.cityline.com/tc/2024/art021hk.html
For more information, please visit www.art021.org
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ART021 HONG KONG SCHEDULE
GALLERIES
Date: August 29th – September 1st (Public Days: August 30th – September 1st)
Venue: Phillips Asia Headquarters in the WKCDA Tower
VIDEOS
Date: August 29th – September 1st
Venue: Asia Society Hong Kong Center
EXPANSION
Date: August 29th – September 1st
Venue: Fringe Club
SCULPTURE
Date: August 28th – September 8th
Venue: Victoria Park and Fringe Club
GBA ART WEEK
Date: August 28th – September 8th
