Art Basel Hong Kong and Fine Art Asia joined forces last week for Hong Kong Spotlight by Art Basel, an exhibition hosting 22 galleries for an in-person opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of art – a physical luxury in 2020’s precarious climates.
While many were keenly looking forward to Art Basel Hong Kong this past March, the city’s largest, annual art event was forced to cancel once the world was abruptly upended by the pandemic. The Art Basel renditions in Basel and Miami shortly followed suit, with gallerists hopping on to the virtual showroom wave in order to maintain some semblance of interaction between clients, gallerists and art lovers.
Laurent Martin "LO" Smoke, 2019 , weather beaten bamboo, fishing thread, copper & leads, ceramic ball
Courtesy of the artist and 10 Chancery Lane
As a physical fair, Hong Kong Spotlight by Art Basel is a breath of fresh air for the Hong Kong art community, reinvigorating the lull with Art Basel’s first physical exhibition of 2020 – a curated selection to thrill everyone from art aficionados and amateurs to experts, and dealers alike.
The 22 exhibiting art galleries include a hefty list of Hong Kong’s finest, such as 10 Chancery Lane, Ben Brown Fine Arts, de Sarthe Gallery, Galerie du Monde, Empty Gallery, Gagosian, Pearl Lam Gallery, Perrotin and Simon Lee Gallery among others. “We invited Art Basel’s exhibitors that have spaces in Hong Kong to apply to Hong Kong Spotlight. However, the selections were based on each individual proposals,” says Angelle Siyang-Le, Regional Head of Gallery Relations for Art Basel Asia. The works cover different categories and media of contemporary art, including installation art, pop art, abstract expressionism, and photography. There are also a series of programs such as themed solo exhibitions, group exhibitions, art history exhibitions and short films.
It is certainly no easy feat to host a physical event, particularly one that aims to bring together communities whilst remaining safe and socially distant. Whilst employing a host of safety measures, Hong Kong Spotlight by Art Basel has undoubtedly brought hope and joy to at a time where it is needed the most. “[Hong Kong Spotlight by Art Basel] is an opportunity for everyone to come together and to experience art and exchange ideas in person,” Angelle said. “My favourite part about working with art is being able to support and bring together the art community, and to do a show like Hong Kong Spotlight. We thought, let’s end this year on a high note”.
View of Perrotin's booth at Hong Kong Spotlight 2020
Photo: Ringo Cheung © Eddie Martinez; Courtesy of the artist and Perrotin
Angelle does not, however, fail to recognise the “new normal” that has emerged this year surrounding an increase in digital spaces for a socially distanced means of engaging with one another. Many galleries offer online live viewing experiences, and Art Basel is no exception. Angelle speaks about the undeniable force of the digital realm. “Digitization is part of our lives now, especially in our industry. We do appreciate the digital platforms, because it makes art more accessible to a wider scope of audiences. But, we believe that digital platforms still cannot replace the physical events, such as what you can experience at Hong Kong Spotlight. Galleries that come to art fairs – they don’t just want to sell artworks – they want to make new relationships and to deepen existing ones. Everyone is longing for this physical connection.”
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Carina Fischer
