Insights will feature presentations by one or two artists with exceptional historical materials and strong thematic exhibitions by 28 galleries. This unique sector illustrates Asian art history by presenting works of important artists from Asia and the Asia-Pacific region. Highlights in this sector include a historically significant exhibition by Asia Art Center featuring works by pioneers of Taiwanese Modern art under the Cold War era, Chu Weibor (b. 1929) and Fong Chung Ray (b. 1934). Entitled ‘Shattered Jade,’ Bank will showcase a project by Chinese artist Xu Bing (b. 1955) that comprises pocketsize wood engravings made during the transition from the Cultural Revolution to the subsequent reforms. Gow Langsford Gallery will present a selection of significant post-war artworks by New Zealander Colin McCahon (b. 1919, d. 1987), who dedicated his lifelong artistic practice to exploring the concerns between land and spirituality, life and death, as well as the politics between the Maori natives and the Pakeha immigrants from the 1970s. Representing prints of a different genre, Japanese artist Yurie Nagashima (b. 1973) will exhibit vintage photographs of her family members posing nude as an inquiry into her identity as a woman at Maho Kubota Gallery.
At Sakshi Gallery, ‘City – Fifth Investigation’ is a project by Indian artist Vivek Vilasini (b. 1964) comprising 31 translucent rice paper sheets that were exposed to dust and atmospheric pollution in New Delhi, addressing climate change and the pollution our generation has caused. A site-specific installation entitled ‘SKIN’ by Korean artist Anna Han (b. 1982) includes a series of paintings and installations that explore the notion of time and space at Gallery Baton. A solo exhibition of Taiwanese artist Wu Chi-Tsung (b. 1981) by Galerie du Monde will exhibit two site-specific installations and a large cyano-collage painting specially created for the show. Zilberman Gallery will present Pakistani artist Aisha Khalid’s (b. 1972) intricate Islamic geometric motifs that investigate themes of gender and domesticity in Pakistan. For the full gallery list, please visit artbasel.com/hongkong/insights.
Discoveries, focused on solo shows by emerging artists, this year will feature 25 galleries. Highlights include Timur Si-Qin (b. 1984), whose virtual reality installation ‘Depolarization,’ presented by Société, beckons viewers into a simulated natural environment to pursue a spiritual relationship to matters such as truth, epistemology and climate change. At mor charpentier, Colombian artist Carlos Motta's (b. 1978) sculptures and photographs confront our preconceived notions of the natural and the unnatural. Hong Kong artist Morgan Wong (b. 1984) will transform A+ Contemporary’s booth with a semantic-filled installation comprising of blinking neon text and absurdly proportioned cheaply-made gold-plated wristwatches, continuing his exploration into the irrepressibility of time. At ROH Projects, Indonesian artist Faisal Habibi‘s (b. 1984) work will question the distinctions between sculpture, paintings and of art itself. At Various Small Fires, American artist Jessie Homer French (b. 1940) will present paintings of Western flora and fauna embedded within an allegorical and agricultural context, which were inspired by the artist’s rural life. Ali Kazim (b. 1979) will present an immersive installation inspired by his hometown of Lahore, resonating with the current political situation in Pakistan, presented by Jhaveri Contemporary. Artist duo ‘Pors & Rao’ will present a digital interactive booth at GALLERYSKE, continuing their survey on the autonomous side of human behavior. The BMW Art Journey will once more be awarded to an artist from this year's Discoveries sector. For the full gallery list, please visit artbasel.com/hongkong/discoveries.
Several exhibitors will also show work by their artists in Art Basel's project-based sectors: Kabinett, dedicated to curated exhibitions within the galleries' booths; Encounters, once more curated by Alexie Glass-Kantor, Executive Director of Artspace in Sydney; and Film, curated by Beijing and Zurich based curator, multi-media artist and producer Li Zhenhua. Further details on these sectors, as well as the Conversations program will be available in the coming months.
Art Basel is also working closely with key cultural organizations across the city, including Asia Art Archive (AAA), Para Site, Hong Kong Arts Centre, 1a space and M+, Hong Kong’s new museum for visual culture, offering an associated program onsite and throughout Hong Kong during the week of the show. Following the collaboration with HKADC for the Venice Biennale in 2017, the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority will present Samson Young’s solo exhibition, which returns from Venice to Hong Kong and will be on show at the M+ Pavilion from February 9 to May 6, 2018. H Queen’s, a new building in Central, which will house many galleries including the first Asia branches for several international galleries and the South Island Cultural District will once again hold a special Art Day in March and 2018 will also see the opening of Tai Kwun, a new center for heritage and art run by Tobias Berger.
Reflecting a long-term commitment to the local art scene, Art Basel continues to support the annual Hong Kong Art Week organized by the Hong Kong Art Gallery Association, taking place from November 15 to November 26, 2017.
