In 2003, while trying to find a domain name for her website, Kim Soo-ja condensed her name into a single word, realising that it would no longer indicate her gender or marital status. She subsequently turned her experience into a piece of art, Action I: A One-Word Name Is An Anarchist’s Name. Known as a conceptual artist, Kimsooja has spanned media in her 30-year career, ranging from performance art to minimalist sculptures to stunning light installations. Most recently, she installed a permanent stained-glass installation, To Breathe (2022), at the Cathedral Saint-Etienne in Metz, France to commemorate its 800th anniversary. Her signature Bottari sculptures consist of the traditional Korean textile of the same name used to wrap and protect personal belongings. New works as well items from her Deductive Object series, will be on view at her first solo exhibition in Greater China at Axel Vervoordt Gallery Hong Kong.

Exhibition dates: March 18 - June 3

Graduating from RMIT University and Hong Kong Art School in 2022, Kaio Wu is also the winner of independent art space Hidden Space’s award given to new grads with the promise of mentorship and their own exhibition; her first solo exhibition, It’s not about design / I didn’t ask to win this award / 使用是產品 / 放着是藝術品, will take place at the space this month. The artist has been creating magazine-style photo books and installations with text and found objects; the theme of the exhibition will explore and critique the increasing fusion of lifestyle and art, and feature texts and terms associated with the art world applied with a playful twist to a range of found objects from clothing to household items and even confectionery.

Exhibition dates: March 31 - April 23

The Indian Singaporean artist had an incredibly busy 2022, establishing a strong regional and international presence; two of Shubigi Rao’s most noteworthy projects last year were her participation in the 59th Venice Biennale, representing Singapore at its national pavilion, and her curatorial leadership of the Kochi Biennale. The artist is best known for her ongoing, decade-long undertaking Pulp: A Short Biography of Banished Books, a film and visual art project consisting of installations, drawings, publications and notebooks which delves into the history of book-burning. An iteration of this work will be featured in Rao’s first Hong Kong solo exhibition at Rossi & Rossi gallery, opening this month.

Exhibition dates: March 18 - May 15

Known for creating large sculptures from recycled materials and tackling social issues through her artwork, Jaffa Lam is as important a local cultural figure as she is an artist, consistently asking herself: “What can artists do for society?” Despite decades of critical acclaim, participation in museum shows and creation of public installations, her first solo exhibition at a commercial gallery only took place in September 2022 at Axel Vervoordt in Hong Kong. Now, Lam, who is also a long-time educator and the academic head of the Hong Kong Arts School at the Hong Kong Arts Centre, is set to present Trolley Party (2023), a large-scale installation conceived for Art Basel Hong Kong’s Encounters section. She will transform six trolleys, used to ferry heavy items around factories, into concrete chairs connected to a constructed ceiling made from pieces of recycled umbrella fabrics sewn together by artists and other female workers who have participated in workshops hosted by the artist and the Hong Kong Women Workers’ Association.

Exhibition dates: March 23-25

Natalie Wadlington’s colourfully painted narratives focus on human and animal relationships. Large-eyed, stylised figures based on the artist’s own body are often seen interacting with or reacting to the presence of one or more animals. Although somewhat autobiographical, Wadlington’s works are also metaphors that strive to convey various aspects of anthropomorphism, the human tendency to attribute emotions and intentions to other species. The artist will showcase a new series of works for her first solo exhibition in Asia at The Shophouse Tai Hang, opening this month, and attributes the unique architecture and heritage of the gallery building, a pre-Second World War tong lau, as inspiration for the new show; “I thought not only about how we humans inhabit space, but also about the animals who live and hold distinct perspectives alongside us.” Each scene reflects our own struggles communicating with those different from us and developing a mutual understanding. 

Exhibition dates: March 18 - April 30

American artist Jenna Gribbon is best known for her intimate figurative portrayals which capture the complex dynamic between artist, muse and viewer. The artist opened her first solo show in Hong Kong, Domestic Cast, last month at Massimo de Carlo gallery, Hong Kong. The artist most often paints her partner, and highlights the female form through multiple perspectives, large and confrontational these paintings are on view in Hong Kong. Additionally, this new body of work features depictions of the artist's son and still life scenes from her home. Gribbon intends to challenge and make us aware of our constructed sense of perception. This intent is evident in works such as Fake flowers in my kitchen (2022), in which the artist paints artificial flowers she places in kitchen. "I'm blurring lines between reality and fiction, questioning what is real and what is fake" the artist says of her work. 

Exhibition dates: February 2 - March 15