Cover Inside Art Basel Hong Kong 2025 (Photo: Billy Chan/Tatler Hong Kong)
Inside Art Basel Hong Kong 2025 (Photo: Billy Chan/Tatler Hong Kong)
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See which Tatler VIPs attended the Art Basel fair at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre for a private viewing on March 26
The annual pilgrimage for art connoisseurs and cultural cognoscenti commenced on March 26 as Art Basel Hong Kong opened its doors to VIPs for its highly anticipated 2025 edition at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Open to the public from March 28 to 30, this year’s fair brings together 240 premier galleries from 40 countries and cities, cementing its status as the preeminent art event in Asia.
The VIP preview day saw the customary flurry of elegant attendees navigating the expansive exhibition halls. Hong Kong collectors arrived early, alongside international visitors, who have returned in full force. This year’s presentation featured established galleries such as Gagosian, White Cube and Hauser & Wirth, showcasing blue-chip works alongside Asia’s foremost galleries like Hanart TZ, Pearl Lam Galleries and Kwai Fung Hin.
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The energy remained electric throughout the day, with veteran collectors surveying booths with measured confidence. The atmosphere suggested a more considered and thoughtful approach to acquisitions than the frenzied buying of the pre-Covid days. The fair’s sectors include Galleries, the main sector for established and blue chip galleries; Discoveries, which spotlights solo projects by emerging artists; and Insights, offering curated projects from artists across Asia.
Particularly noteworthy this year is the fair’s partnership with Para Site, a leading contemporary art centre and one of the oldest and most active independent art institutions in Asia, to steer the curatorial direction of the public film programme. Art Basel also launched the inaugural edition of the MGM Discoveries Art Prize, which will award an emerging artist on Friday. The cash prize is shared between the artist and the gallery presenting them at the show, along with an opportunity to exhibit in Macau.
Art Basel director Angelle Siyang-Le’s vision for this edition emphasises engagement rather than mere spectacle. The Hong Kong edition, established in 2013, sparked the rise of Hong Kong Art Week, during which the city is transformed into a hub of cultural activities. Satellite events include Art Central, exhibitions at M+, a series of exclusive events and dinners with curators, collectors and critics examining the evolving landscape of art in Asia and beyond.
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Credits
Photography: Billy Chan /Tatler Hong Kong
As Content Director at Tatler Hong Kong, Tara shapes the brand's editorial vision across social, digital and print, and reports on Asia's most influential figures — from CEOs and leaders across business, style and the arts. In her dual role as Head of VIP, she also drives the planning and execution of Tatler's flagship IPs, curating star-studded events and building the relationships and communities that define the brand. Born and raised in the Middle East, she honed her craft in Dubai, crafting communication strategies for luxury brands across the Gulf. Follow her on Instagram @tarasobti.
