Cover Detail from Zhang Enli’s ‘A Guest from Afar’ (2023), on view as part of ‘Faces’ exhibition at Hauser & Wirth (Photo: courtesy of Hauser & Wirth)
Detail from Zhang Enli’s ‘A Guest from Afar’ (2023), on view as part of ‘Faces’ exhibition at Hauser & Wirth (Photo: courtesy of Hauser & Wirth)
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The city’s arts month, March, and its biggest visual arts fair, Art Basel Hong Kong, is just round the corner. So why not familiarise yourself with the local arts scene ahead of the big event by checking out these arts exhibitions?
Seeing more art might not be the most popular New Year’s resolution, but if you are indeed looking to expand your cultural horizons this year, there’s no better place to start than in Hong Kong itself.
The city’s arts scene is buzzing as usual, with numerous exhibitions opening over January and February. Some galleries have also chosen new digs for the new year, which means Hauser & Wirth is relocating from its former home at H Queen’s to a new street-level space at 8 Queen’s Road Central—and celebrating its inauguration with a solo exhibition by Chinese painter Zhang Enli from January 24. Meanwhile, beloved independent art space Current Plans has also moved from Sham Shui Po to an industrial space in Wong Chuk Hang that used to be home to the now-closed art space, Spring Workshop.
With so many new and exciting developments happening in Hong Kong just ahead of the city’s arts month, March, and its biggest visual arts event, Art Basel Hong Kong, what better time is there to familiarise yourself with the local arts scene? We’ve done the work for you—and here are our editor’s picks of three best shows opening this month, along with a slideshow of other noteworthy shows happening around this time.
Also read: H Queen’s promotes gallery culture ahead of art month with ‘Elevated Artistic Encounters’ video series
Pixy Liao, ‘Comfort Zone’, Blindspot Gallery
Above Pixy Liao’s “Space Girl Met Earth Boy 4804” (Photo: courtesy of Blindspot Gallery)
Pixy Liao’s “Space Girl Met Earth Boy 4804” (Photo: courtesy of Blindspot Gallery)
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There is perhaps no bolder or more fun way to (st)art the year than with New York-based Chinese artist Pixy Liao’s playful and provocative photographs. Known for her subversive art, Liao stages scenes that intentionally challenge and invert gender stereotypes. For example, her artwork titled Ping Pong Balls shows an image of two ping-pong balls—symbolising male genitalia—wrapped in cloth placed against a paddle, held tightly by a feminine hand with red polished nails. The whole image recalls the saying “she’s a ball buster”, and takes it to another level.
Her first solo exhibition in Hong Kong, called Comfort Zone, features recent works from ongoing series depicting the artist in more “dominant” roles and her partner, Moro, in softer, more “subservient” poses. The exhibition will also showcase a series titled Space Girl Met Earth Boy (2022), a sci-fi fantasy love story in which Liao, who plays “space girl”, a character striving to eliminate toxic masculinity from the world, falls in will love with “earth boy”, enacted by Moro, her gentle human subject.
Date: January 23 – March 9; Address: 15/F, Po Chai Industrial Building, 28 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Wong Chuk Hang
Léon Wuidar, solo exhibition, White Cube
Above Léon Wuidar’s “Ouverture, 16 juillet 74” (1974) (Photo: courtesy of White Cube)
Léon Wuidar’s “Ouverture, 16 juillet 74” (1974) (Photo: courtesy of White Cube)
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For art history (and architecture) nerds, this is a rare chance to view Belgian artist Léon Wuidar’s oeuvre of work spanning six decades, which will be displayed for the first time in Asia. Though famous in his home country, particularly for his abstract geometric art (which perhaps is a reductive classification of his complex works), the artist is lesser known in other parts of the world. He was a professor of drawing before pursuing painting full time at the age of 60, and it is said that many of his early works allude to his childhood during World War II.
The selection of paintings on view at White Cube range from the early 1960s to the present day, showcasing the artist’s mastery of technical precision, and exploration of architecture, light, colour and perspective. A special highlight includes previously never-before-seen works on paper from the 1990s.
Date: January 17 - March 16; Address: G/F, 50 Connaught Road, Central
‘Shanshui: Echoes and Signals’, South Galleries, M+
Above Amar Kanwar’s “The Peacock’s Graveyard” (2023) (Photo: courtesy of M+)
Amar Kanwar’s “The Peacock’s Graveyard” (2023) (Photo: courtesy of M+)
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M+ is set to host a large-scale exhibition drawn from its own collections. The show uses the concept of shanshui (mountain and water)—a cultural concept integral to Chinese philosophy—to explore complex connections between landscape and humanity in the contemporary world.
The exhibition reimagines shanshui through various mediums from sculpture to ink painting. Some well-known ink artists included in this showcase are Xu Bing, Zao Wou-ki and Wesley Tongson.
Other notable artists from the region who are included in the exhibition are Indian film-based artist Amar Kanwar, Japanese sculptor Tatsuo Miyajima, acclaimed for his large-scale LED counter installations, and Japanese American artist and architect Isamu Noguchi, who’s best known for his minimalist sculptures. The exhibition will be on view for two years, throughout the duration of which displays will be changed with regular rotations of a different selections of works.
Date: from February 3, 2024; Address: M+, West Kowloon Cultural District
More exhibitions to see in January and February
Howie Tsui's "The Banquet" (2023) on view for "The Cradle Rocks Above an Abyss" at Hanart TZ Gallery, 葵興 Kung Yip St, 17-21號, Mai On Industrial Building, 2/F, January 27 - March 9 (Photo: courtesy of Hanart TZ)
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Aaina was the Arts and Culture Editor of Tatler Asia. A passion for history and all things visual led her in the pursuit of art history. With extensive experience in the art world working for a range of art institutions, she combined her passion and expertise in the form of art and culture journalism. Prior to Tatler, Aaina worked as a culture reporter for South China Morning Post and editor at the online art platform Cobo Social. Additionally, she has contributed to a variety of prestigious art publications including Art Review, The Art Newspaper, Ocula, Art Agenda, Artsy, Design Anthology, and Artomity. Follow her on Instagram.
