Sneak Peek into the Art Basel Hong Kong showcasing Artists

One of the most famous art fairs, Art Basel Hong Kong, presents us with a hybrid format and 104 galleries this year. The art fair is running from Wednesday to Sunday (19th until the 23rd of May) and is showcasing 21 countries for this 2021 edition. It feels fantastic to see the world recouping from a year of continuous lockdowns. And the art world is not holding back its efforts and excitement to have us all interacting with art again! 

Although things are opening back and looking brighter, Art Basel Hong Kong has recognised the importance to maintain an online presence along with in-site booths. So, if you are unable to attend the art fair, you can still enjoy their online viewing rooms and live broadcasts. 

If you are interested in seeing what kind of art Art Basel Hong Kong is showcasing, you came to the right place! 

Gladstone Gallery, New York

Rirkrit Tiravanija

The Thai artist was one of the pioneers of the Relational Aesthetics movement (art based on, or inspired by, human relations and their social context). Tiravanija explores through conceptual artworks the communal experiences of our existence such as eating, cooking, reading, etc. Through the frequent use of language and untraditional art installations (such as kitchen set-ups), this artist is undoubtedly one of the huge highlights of the fair. 

Vitamin Creative Space, Guangzhou

Firenze Lai

Only in her thirties, the artist Firenze Lai who has previously displayed at Venice Biennale, is now featured in the Art Basel Hong Kong. The artist portrays fictional characters depicting gloomy and uneased figures in a simplistic style. Full of colour and immersive brushstrokes, these paintings, inspired by Francis Bacon, allow the viewer to experience the pain these characters feel through a well-conceived turbulent environment. 

Tokyo Gallery + BTAP, Seoul

Lee Ufan

Painter, sculptor, writer and philosopher – Lee Ufan is another excellent addition to this art fair. Now 84 years old, Ufan is largely admired for his unconventional artistic processes, producing conceptual work that challenges spatial and temporal conditions. Best known for his stone and steel sculptures, the artist often juxtaposes human-made materials against the natural, creating beautiful minimalist critiques to modernization.

Blindspot Gallery, Hong Kong

Trevor Yeung

After highlighting Ufan's practice, we feel like Trevor Yeung is the perfect artist. Yeung is fascinated with plants – indeed, his Instagram handle is @plantertrevor and is full of cactus and whatever other flora you may imagine. Yeung uses horticulture and botanic ecology to create installations and sculptures that draw inspiration from everyday human relationships. The artist also explores concepts of control of living beings through a variety of structures and systems. Yeung artworks feel uncanny and surgical, a one-off experience!

Anat Ebgi, Los Angeles

Greg Ito

Greg Ito is one of the emerging artists showcasing at the Art Basel Hong Kong fair this year. The artist creates dreamy landscapes full of symbolic motifs – windows, snakes, candles, the sun or the moon. Despite the vibrant, lively scenery, the artist's inspiration reflects on his family trauma in WWII. More than a painter, Ito's work often involves immersive and surreal installations and sculptures that match the narrative of his paintings. Surely his flat, bright colours will gather lots of attention at the fair. 

Adding to this fantastic selection of artists, there will be various virtual tours through The 5th Audemars Piguet Art Commission - Phoebe Hui: 'The Moon is Leaving Us' (2021) - which you can access through the zoom link provided in the event page. Audemars Piguet Contemporary hosts a biennial competition where it invites artists to produce large-scale artworks, providing resources and support throughout the process to the winning piece. This year the multidisciplinary artist Phoebe Hui won with her site-specific installation now on view at Tai Kwun Centre for Heritage & Arts in Hong Kong. This virtual tour will guide you through a more in-depth look into the concept of this piece. A brilliant idea to display different art mediums into a hybrid art fair.

Also, there will be some in-site events such as book launches and film screenings – more info here.

We hope you enjoyed this little sneak peek into one of the most awaited fairs of this year. 

#artfair #highlights #asianart #contemporaryart #artbasel