Cover Victoria Tang-Owen (Photo: Affa Chan / Tatler Hong Kong)
Victoria Tang-Owen (Photo: Affa Chan / Tatler Hong Kong)
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As the doors flung open for the VIP preview of the 2023 Art Basel fair on March 21, there were audible gasps among the crowd clambering to get in. Not of shock, but of sheer excitement
For those living in Hong Kong, the weight of the pandemic has dimmed the light in so many of us. After three long years, it felt as though we could collectively exhale—and there was no better way for the city to get its mojo back than with the return of the marquee art fair, which featured inspiring art from local and international artists.
The event, which is taking place until March 25 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, is in its biggest iteration since 2019, with more than 170 galleries from 32 countries and territories participating. It was a grand showcase of Asia’s diversity, as well as global artistic perspectives, through modern and contemporary works.
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Noah Horowitz
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Local galleries including 10 Chancery Lane, Kiang Malingue, Kwai Fung Hin Art Gallery, Alisan Fine Arts, Blindspot Gallery and deSarthe showcased the works of artists on their roster alongside international names like the Gagosian, Hauser & Wirth, Perrotin and David Zwirner. This year’s edition also marked the return of Encounters, the fair’s sector dedicated to large-scale works, while other sections included Insights, Discoveries, Film and Kabinett.
Art Basel’s CEO, Noah Horowitz, had flown in to attend the event. Beaming with pride, he greeted fair-goers at every turn.
Key highlights included artist Amir H Fallah’s work at Denny Gallery’s booth. Fallah’s artwork spoke to the ongoing liberation movement and human rights crisis in Iran. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong visual artist Jaffa Lam showcased the site-specific installation Trolley Party. Presented by Axel Vervoordt Gallery, the piece consists of a 14-metre patchwork made of recycled umbrella fabric, connected by six sculptures made of industrial trolleys that Lam transformed into chairs. The artwork, which dangled mid-air, symbolises labour issues, identity and what the gallery describes as “the collectiveness of the city”. The work was sewn together by Lam and female workers from the Hong Kong Women Workers’ Association.
Panel talks and insightful conversations with fair curators, including Artspace Sydney’s executive director Alexie Glass-Kantor, took place throughout the event. Huddled on staircase seating, art lovers got to hear first-hand how the shows were curated and the importance of breaking the mould.
A one-time visit was simply not enough to bask in the creativity. We’re already counting down the days to next year’s show.
Credits
Photography: Affa Chan/Tatler Hong Kong
As Content Director at Tatler Hong Kong, Tara shapes the brand's editorial vision and reports on Asia's most influential figures — from CEOs and business leaders to designers. In her dual role as Head of VIP, she curates star-studded events and builds 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.
