The Brown University graduate has always had a love for contemporary art
Step into the weekend home of Evan Chow in Sai Kung, Hong Kong and you will feel like you just walked into a well-curated contemporary art museum. The vibrance and electrifying energy that fills the well-proportioned, high-ceilinged space isn’t what you’d normally experience in a typical home.
This is the place where Evan hosts parties and gives talks on contemporary art collecting—and it was one of the most sought after invites during Art Basel Hong Kong. Evan is also known for being a charming and intelligent traveller who has the ability to identify up-and-coming artists. His collection includes names like Izumi Kato, Alicja Kwade, Peter Halley, Shara Huges, Katherine Bernhardt, Jin Meyerson, Sanya Kantarovsky, Meilike Kara, Yuri Yasuda, Chris Huen Sin Kan, and Frog King to name a few.
In the second instalment of the Collector’s Circle series for Tatler, Evan tells us what sparked his interest in collecting art and the challenges he thinks new collectors might face.
When did your interest in art begin? Do you remember the first piece of art you bought?
Evan Chow (EC) My interest in art was inspired by my family. My great-grandparents, grandparents and parents were great collectors of Chinese ink art, antiques and ceramics. As such, I have always enjoyed contemporary art and design from a very young age. I started visiting ArtHK before it became Art Basel in 2013, and developed a keen interest from there. The first piece I purchased was a Zhang Xiaogang print.
How do you acquire most of your works and what do you look out for? Do you travel overseas to attend art fairs and auctions?
EC I enjoy taking trips to biennials and fairs. Every year I try to add a new fair or schedule visits around my work travels. In 2017, I went to Art Basel, Documenta 14, Project Munster and the Venice Biennale in 10 days and it was extremely rewarding. In 2018, I travelled mostly to London and other European cities such as Berlin to visit galleries.
I tend to be drawn to emerging or mid-career artists whom I feel will make art history and be influential in their respective fields, form and peer groups. For me, acquisitions go way beyond the visual attraction, but is more about the history, methodology, inspiration and therefore significance of the artist and the subject piece.
