After four years COVID restrictions Art Basel Hong Kong fully reopens
Art Basel Hong Kong opened its doors to thousands of visitors. The annual event is one of Asia's largest contemporary art fairs.
The five-day event showcases 177 galleries from 32 countries and territories, the largest it's been since 2019. However, this is 27% less than before the pandemic.
Participating galleries reported bumper sales. Insiders says 70% of that gallery's art pieces had been sold in the pre-selling session before the fair.
Most popular artworks are on display including Yayoi Kusama's ‘Pumpkin’.
Yayoi Kusama, Pumpkin, 2023. Photo by Feicien Feng of OF STUDIO
Two-thirds of this year's participating galleries are in Asia, 33 of them in Hong Kong. Among the 22 new galleries are Gallery Vacancy in Shanghai and Whistle Gallery in Seoul.
China is a major market for the growth of the global art trade. So why many of big market players, such as auction houses Phillips, have expanded their business in Hong Kong. On 18 March, they will open a new 50,000 sq ft headquarters in the West Kowloon cultural district.
Credit...
Peter Saul / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York, Venus Over Manhattan
