Art Basel Hong Kong is held in Hong Kong each year. And similar events are held in Basel, Switzerland, and Miami Beach, Florida. Actually, Art Basel was launched in Basel in 1970. It held its first show in Hong Kong in 2013, with 245 galleries from 35 countries taking part. It has grown into one of the biggest arts events of the year in Asia.
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Art Basel Hong Kong 2022: Overview
Normally, Art Basel Hong Kong would draw tens of thousands of artists. art dealers, art critics, art lovers, curators. and private collectors to Hong Kong. However, the number of people attending the fair from overseas in 2022 will be far fewer than usual.
And the reason is simple: COVID-19 travel restrictions have made it very difficult for people from overseas to visit Hong Kong.
Artworks on display will range from museum quality pieces to works by emerging contemporary artists. Included are paintings, sculptures, installations, videos, multiples, prints, performances – the list goes on.
And for those that cannot attend the event in person, there will be live-screened videos, virtual tours, and multilingual VIP and public walkthroughs.
This year’s Hong Kong event will feature six large-scale installations by carefully curated exhibitors. Most importantly, the façade of the newly opened M+ museum – located across Victoria Harbour in Kowloon – will come alive with computer generated animation, a project co-commissioned by Art Basel and M+.
To clarify, it will take place from 7 pm to 9 pm daily from 20 May to 19 June 2022.
Art Basel Hong Kong runs concurrently with Art Central Hong Kong, which also takes place at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wanchai on Hong Kong Island.
Location
Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre – 1 Harbour Road. Wan Chai, Hong Kong Island.
Art Basel 101
To clarify, Art Basel is held each year in three cities: Basel, Switzerland; Miami Beach, Florida; and Hong Kong. In fact. it was launched in Basel in 1970. But it didn’t hold its first show in Hong Kong until 2013, when 245 galleries from 35 countries took part.
Since then, it has grown into one of the biggest arts events of the year in Asia. And it is considered one of the world’s top shows for modern and contemporary art.
Art Basel Hong Kong 2016
I attended Art Basel for the first time in 2016. Here are excerpts from a retrospective I published after the event that year, along with photos.
Art Basel Hong Kong drew 70,000 visitors during its five day run from 22 to 26 March 2016 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wanchai, up from 60,000 that attended the fair in 2015.
Here I am with friends on the first day of previews of Art Basel Hong Kong 2016. Photo Credit: Accidental Travel Writer.
I took these snapshots on the first day of previews of Art Basel Hong Kong 2016. Please don’t expect such sparse crowds if you plan to visit during the public viewing days!
Here’s a look back at Art Basel Hong Kong 2016. The fair was was divided into 6 sectors: galleries, insights, discoveries, encounters film, and magazines
- 239 art galleries representing more that 4,000 contemporary artists were represented in Galleries this year.
- Insights presented projects developed specifically for the Hong Kong Show. They will all have Asian themes.
- Discoveries focused on emergency contemporary artists from around the world.
- Encounters presented large scale sculptures and installations from around the world.
- There were films by and about artists.
- Art publishers from around the world displayed their publications are Magazines.
Art Basel Hong Kong lasted 5 days, but the first 2 days were by invitation only. It was open to the public from 24 to 26 March 2016.
Thursday, March 24, 2016, 1pm to 9 pm
Friday, March 25, 2016, 1 pm to 8 pm
Saturday, March 26, 2016, 11 am to 6 pm