ARTISTS
Art HK 11 set to grab art world's attention
Last year, a whopping 46,000 visitors swarmed to ART HK10; this year鈥檚 figures promise to be even more impressive, with nearly twice as many galleries exhibiting. ART HK11 features a variety of works by art-world all-stars; massive installations, interactive programs, and a slew of emerging artists and galleries exhibiting at the fair for the first time.
黑料不打烊
25 May, 2011
This week, the art world is abuzz with anticipation as all eyes shift to the east: back for its fourth year is the highly successful Hong Kong Art Fair, showcasing at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from May 26th-29th. ART HK11 boasts an impressive roster of contemporary works, with over 250 galleries from 38 different countries exhibiting, including never-before seen pieces by prominent artists and new dealers showing for the first time.
Since 2007, the Hong Kong Art Fair has grown from a regional event to an important fixture on the international art scene. Which isn鈥檛 to say the fair won鈥檛 be paying homage to the city that inspired it - of the galleries exhibiting, 22 are from Hong Kong, the most represented since the fair鈥檚 inception. ART HK11 is the focal point of Hong Kong鈥檚 art week, which begins May 23rd and features sales by several prestigious auction houses, as well as a variety of outdoor events.
Earlier this month, the Swiss-owned Art Basel announced its plan to buy HK ART Fair, a move which has helped garner international media attention, and further cements the Fair鈥檚 position in the art fair platform. Last year, a whopping 46,000 visitors swarmed to ART HK10; this year鈥檚 figures promise to be even more impressive, with nearly twice as many galleries exhibiting.
ART HK11 features a variety of works by art-world all-stars; massive installations, interactive programs, and a slew of of emerging artist and galleries exhibiting at ART HK for the first time. Up for sale are contemporary pieces and modern works - from the likes of Picasso and Warhol to Bill Viola and Ravinder Reddy - with a range of prices targeting both the seasoned and novice collector. Take a look at 黑料不打烊.com鈥檚 highlights of what to see and where to be at this year鈥檚 ART HK:
ART FUTURES
The newly-expanded ART FUTURES is a multi-gallery exhibition, featuring galleries established within the last five years that are showcasing the works of emerging contemporary young artists under the age of 35. A total of 45 new galleries will participate in this year鈥檚 ART HK - almost three times the number of galleries represented at last year鈥檚 fair. Countries exhibiting include Norway, Turkey, and Puerto Rico; the most promising artist will be awarded a prize of $25,000 by a panel of judges including ArtAsiaPacific publisher and editor Lars Nittve and Elaine Ng, and Serpentine Gallery co-director Hans Ulrich Obrist.
VIDEOTAGE: NEW MEDIA ARCHAEOLOGY (HONG KONG EDITION)
Over a decade into the 21st century, New Media continues to make headlines in the art world with the use of cutting edge technology. ART HK11 is highlighting this innovative genre in a special exhibit, NEW MEDIA ARCHEOLOGY (HONG KONG EDITION) curated by veteran video artist Ellen Pau and co-presented by Videotage.
This project features the technological and digitally-inspired works of seven local artists. 鈥淭he exhibition presents some of the most memorable works in new media art history,鈥� said Pau. Notable pieces include a twitter-powered sewing machine (which 鈥渟ews鈥� a stitch every time a twitter user tweets the phrase 鈥淚 wish鈥�) and Jo茫o Vasco Paiva鈥檚 "Sea of Mountains" video work, showing footage of the sea which uses a piano score to generate a computational music piece. The New Media exhibit also pays homage to the artists that were integral to the movement in its infancy - seven LCD screens will be interspersed throughout the fair, featuring video art and interviews with Hong Kong artists working in the 1980鈥檚 and 90鈥檚.
ASIA ONE
The newest addition to this year鈥檚 ART HK is the Asia One project, which features solo exhibitions by Asian artists from across the globe. Offering a generous variety of artworks from both emerging and established Asian artists, the Asia One project aims to provide support and international exposure for unique Asian artists and the galleries that represent them. For its first year, 47 galleries from 12 countries are participating - including artists and galleries from the Middle East and Indian sub-continent. One very special work to be featured in Asia One is the series of paper and metal-cut works by Chinese Artist Wu Jian鈥檃n, represented by Beijing鈥檚 Chambers Fine Art. His elaborate paper sculpture 鈥淩ainbow, 201鈥� was crafted especially for the fair, and is the crowning highlight of Asia One鈥檚 first exhibit.
PUBLIC INSTALLATIONS
Perhaps one of the most exciting features of this year鈥檚 ART HK are the numerous massive public installations in and around the fair. One of the most highly-anticipated is the coral reef tunnel by local artist Nadim Abbas, whose 鈥淢arine Lover 鈥� A Hermatypic Romance," is an 18-meter long installation crafted from the resin of a Chinese aquarium manufacturer.
Nadim said he has been 鈥渙bsessed鈥� with coral since childhood because of the many juxtaposing themes it evokes. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a cross between matter, something living, and something science fiction,鈥� the 30-year-old artist stated. Also of note is the fascinating interactive exhibit by Australian artist Janet Laurence, whose 鈥淩esuscitation Garden (an ailing planet)" illustrates how to remedy our diseased ecosystem: in her translucent, mesh-crafted room, visitors will enter a 鈥済arden鈥� featuring plant life that is literally hooked up to life-support.
LITTLE PICASSO/YUMMY MUMMY ASIA: ART SPLASH
ART HK11 even has something for the youngest budding artist - with Little Picasso/Yummy Mummy Asia鈥檚 ART SPLASH booth, which will provide a unique range of activities geared towards inspiring and encouraging children to explore the art world. In addition to the multitude of workshops for kids - including painting, sculpture, and clay work - ART SPLASH鈥檚 kids will work with local and international artists to create a giant work on canvas which will be sold at auction, with proceeds benefiting underprivileged children in Hong Kong.
Written by 黑料不打烊.com staff
