Art Attack: Hong Kong celebrates creativity with large scale art fairs

The biggest edition of Art Basel Hong Kong since 2019. (Photo Courtesy of Art Basel)

KUALA LUMPUR, March 27 (Bernama) -- The eyes of the art world turned to Hong Kong last week as colour, creativity and vibrancy descended upon the city for the arts and culture scene.

Headlined by large-scale fairs Art Basel Hong Kong and Art Central, the internationally renowned celebration of arts and culture sees a suite of world-class events, encounters and experiences taking place throughout the city, showcasing Hong Kong’s thriving creative landscape while reinforcing its position as a global cultural hub.

The three-day Art Basel Hong Kong ending March 25, hosted the biggest edition of the international art fair since 2019, which this year features 177 exhibitors from 32 countries and territories.

Concurrently, held on March 22-25, Art Central, Hong Kong’s homegrown art fair has established itself as one of the region’s most significant platforms for emerging artists.

In particular, Hong Kong Tourism Board in a statement said it is teaming up with Art Central in launching an “Arts in Hong Kong café” to invite visitors to walk into the contemporary art gallery like café and see the collaborative works of local and overseas artists.

As Hong Kong’s stock on the global arts stage continues to go from strength to strength, a host of opportunities for artistic encounters can also be discovered around town such as large-scale work ‘GIANTS: Rising Up’, the first of French artist JR’s GIANTS series in Asia running from March 13 to April 23, at Harbour City.

In addition, Pacific Place is hosting the world premiere of ‘Gravity’, a 10-metre-tall work by Los Angeles-based conceptual artist Awol Erizku which runs from March 17 to April 2; while ArtisTree has unveiled ArtisTree Selects: Urban Rocks, a solo exhibition featuring brand-new sculptural works by Hong Kong-based French artist Polo Bourieau.

Street art will also be in the spotlight this dynamic art week, with prominent showcases including Street art festival HKwalls making a vibrant return to Hong Kong; and City As Studio, Greater China’s largest ever exhibition of graffiti and street art, presented by K11 Arts Foundation.

-- BERNAMA