Dealers Are Busting Out the Blue Chip for Art Basel Hong Kong 2018
Dealers are placing their bets on how to best capitalize on Asia’s booming art scene.
The sixth edition of Art Basel Hong Kong is kicking off this week with a marquee lineup of works to be sold at the fair and its related events. This year’s fair features 248 galleries, up slightly from 241 galleries last year, and a roster that is “more international than ever before,” fair director Adeline Ooi said in an email. “We are delighted to welcome new exhibitors from all corners of the globe, however we are keeping a distinct focus on Asia,” which is home to more than 50 percent of the exhibitors.
Zhang Xiaogang, ‘Mercury Sea’
Lee Jinhyu, ‘Picasso’, 100 x 73 cm, Oil on Canvas
Ooi noted that the “Kabinett” sector, which was introduced last year to provide a forum for curated booths, is back for a second time after positive feedback from participants. “We are anticipating it to resonate and have even more impact this year,” she says. This year highlights in the section include historical works by important Asian artists.
Apart from the fair is a jam-packed schedule of exhibitions and a series of major sales at Sotheby’s and Christie’s—conveniently held alongside the fair at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Pan Dehai, ‘Victory’, 170 x 200 cm, Oil on Canvas
Salvador Dali, ‘Triumphant Elephant’, Bronze
As Western galleries gear up in hopes of finding new clients, they are trying to strike a balance between blue-chip modern and contemporary works by recognizable names like Jeff Koons, as well as by artists whose painterly techniques and aesthetics may strike chords with buyers more attuned to classical works. Other dealers, meanwhile, are focusing on artists who have a connection to the region.
