Building on its strong first year in 2013, Art Basel in Hong Kong is returning in May with a strong program that includes for the first time a Film section, which will be curated by multi-media artist Li Zhenhua with screenings taking place in the agnès b. CINEMA at the nearby Hong Kong Arts Centre.
Taking place May 16 to 18, the fair will once again be a massive affair for the region, with 245 galleries including 19 new exhibitors.
Following in the footsteps of Art Stage Singapore, fair organizers were quite keen to underline their commitment to Asian Art, pointing out that over half of their exhibitors have space in Asia and the Asia-Pacific region and of these, 24 galleries have exhibition spaces in Hong Kong.
The fair will also present an Insights sector, dedicated to curatorial projects by 47 galleries and the fair will feature solo shows and thematic group exhibitions. Highlights will include, a presentation of works by Saudi Arabian artist Ahmed Mater by first-time participant Athr Gallery from Jeddah; an exhibition on Tatsuo Kawaguchi, one of the most influential post-war Japanese conceptual artists; a selection of vintage photographs of Hong Kong by Brian Brake; and a gigantic canvas and participatory work by Choy Chun Wei.
The Discoveries sector will present a showcase of emerging artists from across the world. 55 Gallery, Shanghai will give over their booth to Qingtai Hu, as a working studio; Hannah Barry Gallery, London will present mobile sculptures by James Capper that includes a four-legged walking machine; and Take Ninagawa, Tokyo, will have sculptural video installations by Taro Izumi.
The Encounters sector curated by Yuko Hasegawa, chief curator of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo, will show artworks on an institutional scale.
As first published on BlouinArtinfo.com