Shanghai art fair to launch HK version
After months of speculation, the Shanghai-based art fair operator Art021 has announced the launch of its new Hong Kong fair, scheduled for this summer.
Called Art021 Hong Kong, the inaugural edition will be held in summer, but the exact date and venue are yet to be confirmed.
Dozens of galleries are expected to be involved. It is smaller than the city’s Art Basel and Art Central events.
Instead, it hopes to differentiate itself from more established fairs by focusing on galleries from the mainland, the Middle East and the rest of the Global South – including India, Indonesia, Mexico, Brazil and Pakistan – as well as the Chinese diaspora, says David Chau, co-founder of Art021 and of the new fair.
“Western artists are well received by collectors in China, but the reception of Chinese artists in more traditional art markets in America or Europe has not been as enthusiastic,” Chau says.
“This is why we’ve been considering ways to bring greater exposure to exceptional art, from not only China but also, more widely, the Global South, to international collectors.
“Hong Kong, with its established infrastructure and favourable policies, is the ideal platform to achieve this.”
The fair, which has obtained direct financial support from the Hong Kong government’s Mega Arts and Cultural Events Fund, will replace the Shanghai company’s existing fair in neighbouring Shenzhen, Chau says.
DnA Shenzhen was launched in 2021 to cultivate the city’s emerging art market, while also targeting seasoned collectors from Hong Kong, Chau says.
However, the fair is now “on hold” after its second edition in 2023.
“We still believe Shenzhen has significant potential, but when the opportunity arose to launch a fair in Hong Kong, we felt compelled to pursue it. For now, our focus is on Art021 Hong Kong, but this doesn’t preclude revisiting DnA Shenzhen in the future.”
While acknowledging the importance of financial backing from the Hong Kong government, Chau says the company is committed to the Hong Kong fair “long term”.
He adds that Art021 Hong Kong will feature curated sections that explore themes related to the Global South. The Post understands that Art021 is exploring a potential partnership with Art Dubai, a leading art fair in the Middle East, to bring more galleries from the region to Hong Kong.
Art021’s foray into the Hong Kong market marks the arrival of yet another new regional fair just as the global art market is experiencing a downturn.
The city saw the debut of a new boutique fair, Supper Club, which coincided with Art Basel Hong Kong in March. The organisers said sales were above expectations and there would be another edition in 2025.
The African art fair 1-54 also tested the waters in the city with a small show at Christie’s in March, with a view for a full fair in 2025.
In Seoul, a new fair called Art OnO will take place from April 19.
“We believe Hong Kong’s art market is big enough to sustain another fair, particularly in the second half of the year, similar to the auction model with spring and fall seasons,” Chau says.