Why Art Basel Hong Kong is Asia’s biggest canvas for global artists
- Close relationships with the city’s galleries like Simon Lee and David Zwirner seem to be a key entry point for artists planning their expansion in the region
Placed at the centre of Asia’s international art scene, Art Basel Hong Kong attracts plenty of artists from around the world who are making their debut in the region.
“In Asia and in Hong Kong, it’s such a small scene; people here are looking for works that speak to a global audience – not just a Chinese audience, not a gimmick … The market is actually very mature in Asia,” says Simon Lee, owner of Simon Lee Gallery, founded in London but which has had a presence in Hong Kong since 2012.
A close relationship with galleries in the region seems to be a key entry point for artists planning their expansion to Asia.
This year, Simon Lee Gallery, Hong Kong will present new paintings by Austrian artist Heimo Zobernig both at Art Basel and a parallel solo exhibition.
“The idea of exhibiting in Asia is the result of the close relationship I have between Simon Lee and the gallery,” says Zobernig. “We came to a mutual decision that it was the right time to take this step.”
The paintings to be shown are from various phases of work from last year.
Zobernig took inspiration from Pablo Picasso’s interpretation of Édouard Manet’s Le dejeuner sur l’herbe to create an extensive series of works in which he strengthened the level of abstraction. Another work is both a nod to, and a rejection of, Picasso’s flower paintings, in a challenge to perceptions of nature.
This city – like so many other things in Asia – cannot be measured by European standards, even though it was exposed to British influence for a long period of time
“I am looking forward to seeing how my appropriation of the minimalism of Asian philosophy finds its way back to the audience,” Zobernig says. “On one hand, the influence of Asian art was very important for the development of avant-garde European art more than a hundred years ago. On the other hand, there was very little continuity in the abstract tendencies in the Asian world.
“People from Asia prefer paintings in general, but we also need to balance those preferences out with our rigorous and more conceptually-driven programme,” Lee says about selecting artists to carry to the Asia market.
“Most of the artists we show in Hong Kong are mid-career … We have found that this promotes a healthier dialogue surrounding art and gives us more freedom in determining who and what we show.”
It is not news that galleries are utilising the influential stage of Art Basel Hong Kong to introduce artists to the region. Since 2015, David Zwirner gallery has staged special presentations of artists at their Art Basel booth every year, including Neo Rauch, Michaël Borremans, Luc Tuymans, Jeff Koons and Carol Bove.
“We bring the artists to Hong Kong to meet the clients here in person, which is very important,” says Zwirner. “Art Basel Hong Kong has always been a crucial platform for us to introduce the artists and our global programme.”
German artist Neo Rauch is giving his first solo presentation in Asia, an adventure made possible by Zwirner’s gallery.
“They expressed their desire to show my paintings in this extremely interesting city – and I did not hesitate for a second to accommodate this wish,” Rauch says.
“This city – like so many other things in Asia – cannot be measured by European standards, even though it was exposed to British influence for a long period of time.”
In Asia and in Hong Kong, it’s such a small scene; people here are looking for works that speak to a global audience – not just a Chinese audience, not a gimmick …
Rauch admits that at first sight, he found Hong Kong’s familiar historical European cityscapes rather disorienting. But this first impression was quickly replaced by a fascination with the city’s vibrant energy.
“One can sense the driving forces of economic prosperity almost physically,” says Rauch. “What surprises me [the most] is the nearly complete rejection of the architectural past in favour of a seemingly unfettered highly dynamic urban expansion.”
Both Lee and Zwirner consider Art Basel a good vehicle for introducing new artists to the region, yet also decided to put up solo exhibitions of the artists they represent.
“An art fair has its limitations as you can only show a certain number of works for a few days, but with our gallery space at H Queen’s, we can put up comprehensive solo exhibitions of our artists,” Zwirner says.
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