The Global Art World Gathers in Hong Kong for the City's Third I

The Global Art World Gathers in Hong Kong for the City's Third International Art Fair

A woman looks at an artwork on the first public day of the Hong Kong Art Fair 2010, in Hong Kong, China. The trade show for art industry insiders, now in its third year, runs from 27 to 30 May, and has attracted around 150 galleries from about 30 different countries. Asian-based buyers of art represent the single fastest growing segment of the international art market. Between 2004 and 2009, China's art market increased by 200 per cent to some 2,48 billion Euro per annum, overtaking even France. ART HK, as it also known, takes place at the same time, and in the same place, as several large sales of luxury watches, fine wines, and expensive jewellery by auction houses Christie's and Bonhams. EPA/ALEX HOFFORD.

HONG KONG.- The international art world glitterati jetted into Hong Kong for the hottest ever event of the art calendar in Asia. Takashi Murakami, Jay Jopling, Zhang Xiaogang, Antony Gormley and Baz Luhrmann are amongst a very long list attending. ART HK 10 is open from 27-30 May at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) and it is set to attract the biggest ever gathering the city has witnessed of top artists, gallery directors, curators, collectors, critics and art lovers. Now in its third year, ART HK: Hong Kong International Art Fair has quickly established itself as a ‘must attend’ fixture on the global art circuit. The 2010 Fair features four days of cutting-edge contemporary art, privileged networking, panel discussions and a string of glamorous parties. Running right across the city, there is a whole series of engaging art events taking place - all sparked by the excitement of ART HK. Supported by new lead sponsor Deutsche Bank, ART HK 10 welcomes a stellar line-up – comprising 155 top-name galleries from 29 countries. Leading international galleries debuting at ART HK 10 include Hauser & Wirth, Emmanuel Perrotin and James Cohan Gallery. They join established ART HK favourites, such as Gagosian Gallery, Lisson Gallery, White Cube and SCAI THE BATHHOUSE. Adding a new dimension are more than 10 solo exhibitions by an eclectic selection of international artists. These include Japanese pop-art star Yoshitomo Nara at Marianne Boesky Gallery, Israel’s Gideon Rubin at Rokeby and Aya Ben Ron at Aando Fine Art, Australian Susan Norrie at Mori Gallery, and Britain’s Jim Lambie at The Modern Institute and Damien Hirst at White Cube. An exciting line-up of contemporary Chinese art is led by Liu Ye (Sperone Westwater), whose painting Bright Road sold for a record US$2.45 million at Sotheby’s this April. “In the third year of ART HK, not only are we welcoming more top level galleries with stronger works than ever before, but also ART HK is acting as a catalyst for spreading excitement for art and culture events far beyond the Fair itself. ART HK is helping to put Hong Kong on the cultural map,” explains Magnus Renfrew, Fair Director. “Given Hong Kong’s pivotal role as a hub of the rapidly expanding Asian arts scene, Deutsche Bank’s sponsorship of ART HK was a logical step to expanding our global art programme,” explained Michael West, Head of Communications in Asia Pacific for Deutsche Bank. Bringing art ‘off the wall’, ART HK 10 continues to push creative boundaries with displays of experimental art, video and installation works. Emerging Japanese artist Noriko Yamaguchi – who uses her own body as a canvas on which to create – is certain to wow the crowds at Vernissage on 26 May. Hong Kong’s 10 Chancery Lane Gallery, meanwhile, is debuting The Creek, 1977, a multimedia installation created by movie director Baz Luhrmann and painter Vincent Fantauzzo – both of whom are attending ART HK 10. Artist Talks features 44 international artists, including Movana Chen (Pékin Fine Arts) and Penny Byrne (Sullivan + Strumpf), who share their creative inspirations and experiences. All Artist Talks take place on stands at the Fair. Non-profit research centre Asia Art Archive is also presenting a series of free Backroom Conversations with 24 leading art panelists – on topics ranging from Curators on Japanese Contemporary Art History (27 May) to Private Endowments in Contemporary Art (28 May) and Artist as Activist, Art as Catalyst (29 May). Showcasing emerging talent is also a focus of ART HK 10. The second instalment of SCMP | ART FUTURES, which debuted at ART HK 09, presents the works of up-and-coming artists from galleries less than five years old. Pilar Corrias Gallery (London) and Aando Fine Art (Berlin) are among those featured this year, providing a unique opportunity to experience blossoming trends in global art. The winner of the Best Artist in SCMP | ART FUTURES, judged by a panel which includes critic Hans Ulrich Obrist, will receive US$2,000 and have their work featured on the cover of the Sunday Post Magazine. The 2010 Hong Kong International Art Fair has also been timed to coincide with Hong Kong’s major auctions, plus exhibitions by Vito Acconci and Ai Weiwei at non-profit art organisation Para/Site Art Space, and Taiwanese artist Lee Mingwei’s Hong Kong debut show at Osage Gallery. Turning the spotlight on the local Hong Kong art scene, the inaugural Hong Kong Art Week – co presented and sponsored by the Home Affairs Bureau and ART HK – will be launched at ART HK 10. Running from 25-30 May, Hong Kong Art Week will encompass the Hong Kong Contemporary Art Biennial Awards exhibition and competition that has been running since 1975, plus a series of Hong Kong Art Talks by local artists and curators. To celebrate Hong Kong Art Week and ART HK 10, Brit Award nominated composer Simon Boswell (UK) has been commissioned to present his mesmerising audio-visual installation BLINK. The slow-motion videos of celebrities – including Kate Moss, David Beckham, Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee – is being projected onto the façade of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui, accompanied by a specially composed musical score. The 30-metre-high video installation is displayed nightly between 25 and 28 May (8.15pm to 11pm) – and is visible from across Victoria Harbour.