ART BASEL HK observation

Date: 2015/03/13-2015/03/17
Venue: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC)
Price:
VIP Ticket: $ 850 HKD
Standard Ticket (Suited for Mon&Tue): $250
Weekend Ticket: $300
Two-day Ticket(Suited for Mon&Tue):$400
Three-day Ticket(Suited for Sun-Mon&Tue): $650
*TWD: Hong Kong Dollars = 1:4

Background of Art Basel HK:
Founded by Tim Etchells, Sandy Angus and Will Ramsay Art HK was the former Art Basel HK. Due to their effort in a short period of time, Art HK rose to an international art fair and became famous around the world. In 2011 MCH Swiss Exhibition decided to purchase Art HK and owned the majority of their shares. After a few years later (2013) they renamed Art HK into the Art Basel HK. This year Art Basel HK has grown even bigger and there are satellite art fairs surrounding it, which are the Sixth Asia Contemporary Art and Art central. March has now become an important month for the art festival in Hong Kong.

The Show:
This year the show is divided into six major sections which are: Galleries, Insights, Discoveries, Encounters, Film, and Magazines. Moreover, there are a total of 233 galleries from 37 different countries and bringing works from 3000 artists to participate in the fair. On the other hand, in the heart of the exhibition”Insights” gives 34 booths for Asia galleries to curate and explore. As for the “Encounters” section huge Installation Art can be found, 20 of which come from different parts of the world. Also, Art Basel HK holds many forums and seminars for people who come to see the fair. The brochure has a timetable for viewers. They invite famous artists, collectors, directors of museums, curators, and critics to give these forums, creating a bridge of communication for the art world.

Facilities and Layout:
The fair used white lighting in general and the boards that divided the booths were around 3 meters high. Some parts of the floor had carpeting but the majority was in polished cement. The booths were around 66m2 or above in size. The signs were very clear and the pathways were easy to navigate. It is impossible to get lost in the fair. Moreover, the café area only served food with mild scents or and used the microwave to heat up. This was great because it does not affect the viewing experience. The area for the forums and magazine had their own space so it did not interfere with the main exhibiting area. Also, there were chairs for viewers to take a rest occasionally.

A little about New Media:
The percentage of photographic works is not high in this exhibition. Yet there are lots of installation art and film that combine with photography. The highlight of Art Basel HK is that they gave “Film” a whole big section. Their equipment and space (120m and can hold about 120 people) were breathtaking. This enabled a greater viewing experience for the viewers. Among them were three Taiwanese galleries: Project Fulfill Art Space, Michael Ku Gallery, and Chi-wen Gallery. In the fair, the photographic works were all in digital format. We could not find traditional prints. Digital photography seemed to be the leading role. As for the price they ranged around 800,000~1,000,000 TWD, with editions of 5 ~7 (some with AP). We do not see many young artists; most of the works are from artists who are already very well-known. We can imply that photography is still in its infant stage in Asia and people tend to only buy famous works from already well-known artists.

Observations and Info:
Q: Why has Art Basel chose HK for their base in Asia? There has long been a stereotype that Hong Kong lacks “culture”. Yet if one observes the issue closely they will soon notice that art and culture can be found in a lot of areas. (Eg: movie and music industry) The turning point for Hong Kong was in 2008. Sotheby’s and Christie’s decided that all their Asian affairs would be taken care of in Hong Kong. Factors like no tax, great financial service, and a good economy for trade were the main reasons for choosing Hong Kong as their base in Asia. Moreover, the encouragement of art from the government and private sector has made a great impact on the art world in Hong Kong. Places like West Kowloon Cultural District seem promising, with 400000m2 of land this place consists of theaters, performance centers, and art spaces. Besides facilities, the government has also provided projects, awards, and scholarships for talented artists. As for the private sector, places like K11 mall have combined art with shopping creating a friendly atmosphere for people to understand art. These elements make Hong Kong a great place for establishing an art base in Asia.

Q: Competitiveness of Galleries in Taiwan and Art Taipei
This year seemed like a good year for Taiwan. Even though comparing to other Asia countries we still have much improvement lying ahead. The majority of galleries that were exhibiting at the fair were from Hong Kong and China. Art Fairs have a great attraction due to the fact one can view a great proportion of works in one place. Art Basel HK not only offers great artworks but also has excelled in promotion of the fair. The number of people attending this fair is massive and many collectors flock to HK every year to see the show. How can Taiwan become internationally competitive is something we should all think about.