Art Basel Hong Kong Makes Its Return This Month

Happening on March 23 to 25, the international art fair returns with even more galleries than before.

Art Basel Hong Kong will officially make its return this month at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center. With 177 galleries from 32 different countries, it’s a significant increase from the 130 exhibitors in 2022.

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This is the first ABHK that will take place after Hong Kong lifted the requirements on hotel quarantine and mask-wearing.

Residents will be able to freely enjoy the art events throughout the city and international visitors are more than welcome as well.

This year, 22 exhibitors from all over the world will be joining ABHK for the first time. This includes exhibitors from China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Nigeria, and many more.

Sectors such as Encounters (dedicated to large-scale works) and Kabinett (featuring thematic and focused presentations) will also be making their return this year. This marks the first Hong Kong show to feature all special sectors since 2019.

Here are some of the galleries to look out for this year.

STPI Gallery

STPI Gallery at booth 1D02 presents a powerhouse line-up of artists including Rirkrit Tiravanija (Thailand/USA), Do Ho Suh (South Korea/UK), and Charles Lim Yi Yong (Singapore) among others.

Karma Juggler by Do Ho Suh at Art Basel Hong Kong
Karma Juggler by Do Ho Suh | Image courtesy of Sutton

Their art takes on contemporary issues, from geopolitical power to notions of self and womanhood. All artists also have works in a collection at M+, Hong Kong’s global museum of visual culture.

Lehmann Maupin

The gallery returns to ABHK with a selection of new and historic works. At the center of the presentation, Lehmann Maupin introduces Tammy Nguyen’s new large-scale painting. The artist’s first solo exhibition with the gallery will open on March 23 in Seoul.

The ooth at 1C16 will also have historic works by the late Heidi Bucher and new works by Beijing-based painter Liu Wei.

Richard Koh Fine Art

Richard Koh Fine Art located at booth 1D25 introduces three of Malaysia’s most progressive artists to an international audience. 

Parasocial VII by Joshua Kane Gomes at Art Basel Hong Kong
Parasocial VII by Joshua Kane Gomes | Image courtesy of Sutton

Painters Yeoh Choo Kuan and Justin Lim as well as object maker Joshua Kane Gomes each have a distinctive style and voice. This presentation for ABHK shows a possible branching point in Malaysian contemporary art.

David Zwirner

At booth 1C15, David Zwirner will be presenting new works by the American artist Jordan Wolfson. These pieces feature images of iconic figures from pop and vernacular culture.

In addition to their theme of tensions in contemporary society, the gallery will also feature another work by Wolfson which continues his celebrated installation Colored sculpture (2016).

Retro Africa

This year marks Retro Africa’s first participation in ABHK. The contemporary art gallery will be located at booth 3D29 with works by Nigerian visual artist Victor Ehihkamenor.

A Victor Ehihkamenor piece at at Art Basel Hong Kong
A Victor Ehihkamenor piece | Image courtesy of Sutton

The exhibit will include new works from his Rosary and Perforation series. A third edition of his bronze sculpture Pregnant World will also be present. As one of only two African galleries at the fair, the artist uses his work to challenge the way westerners look at African art.

Banner image courtesy of Sutton.

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