Art Basel to Collaborate With Fine Art Asia

Art Basel has announced that it will team up with the Hong Kong art fair, Fine Art Asia, for the latter fair’s 2020 in-person event from November 27–30, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC).

According to The Art Newspaper, the Swiss art fair’s “Hong Kong Spotlight by Art Basel” section at Fine Art Asia, which exhibits Western and Asian modern and contemporary art as well as antiques, will include a presentation of about 20 Hong Kong-based and international galleries that are previous participants of Art Basel fairs. Adeline Ooi, Art Basel’s Asia director, shared with Financial Times her excitement to offer Hong Kong galleries a physical platform to promote the city’s visual art community during “a tumultuous time.” Further details about the section have yet to be announced. 

The 2020 edition of Fine Art Asia will focus on Hong Kong galleries and art institutions to promote the city’s art community during the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic. Fair organizers also plan to integrate Ink Asia, a smaller fair focused on contemporary inks, also founded by Fine Art Asia’s founder Andy Hei. Fine Art Asia originally postponed its annual October fair on August 17 due to government-imposed social distancing regulations implemented since July as result of a third wave of Covid-19 cases in the city. On September 30, Fine Art Asia announced that it will proceed with live events in November.

Art Basel Hong Kong’s 2020 edition at HKCEC was canceled on February 6 due to the uncertainties of Covid-19, receiving mixed reactions from gallerists and exhibitors as it was one of the first major art events to reschedule due to the disease. The fair later hosted its inaugural virtual showcase, Online Viewing Rooms (OVR), with 235 galleries from March 18–25. 

Art Basel Hong Kong’s 2021 edition will return to its usual venue at the HKCEC from March 25–27. Art Central, which also canceled its 2020 fair earlier this year will share the same space for its 2021 event from March 23–26, a departure from its usual tent at the Central Harbourfront. 

Ariana Heffner is an editorial intern of ArtAsiaPacific.

To read more of ArtAsiaPacific’s articles, visit our Digital Library.