The Hong Kong store stocks a huge variety of the publisher's books, including a HK$250,000 tome about Ferrari
What do octogenarian British artist David Hockney, boxer Muhammad Ali and carmaker Ferrari have in common? Very little, except they’re all the subject of glossy books by German publisher Taschen.
One of the world’s leading art book publishers, Taschen has just opened its first store in Asia at Hong Kong’s Tai Kwun Centre for Heritage and Arts. As with all Taschen stores, the sleek space is packed with books on everything from art to food to travel to fashion to, as Taschen brands them, “sexy books”.
See also: 5 Things To Know About Tai Kwun Centre For Heritage And Arts
Many of these books are affordably priced, but Taschen is particularly famous for its limited-edition, sumo-sized books, which are so large that they’re sold with their own table and can cost in the hundreds of thousands of Hong Kong dollars. At the opening of the Hong Kong store, we speak to Marlene Taschen, managing director of the family business, to talk about the brand’s plans for Asia and Taschen’s upcoming book on Ferrari, which will cost HK$250,000.
Why did you choose Hong Kong as the location for your first store in Asia?
We’ve always been very drawn to Hong Kong. We've had a regional office here since 2005, and the addition of a permanent space was a fitting choice for us to continue developing our presence and positioning in the region.
Hong Kong’s international spirit and thriving art scene make it an ideal platform for Taschen, and the store will give us the chance to present the full extent of our program and to engage in a direct dialogue with customers and the local community.