Art Basel Hong Kong opens to 'very good start' despite rain
The black rainstorm warning did not hamper art collectors’ enthusiasm as sales were made the minute Art Basel Hong Kong opened its doors for the first time. Some galleries exhibiting at the first Hong Kong edition of the Swiss-owned modern and contemporary art fair reported encouraging sales results during the VIP preview, which took place immediately after Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying cut the ribbon at around noon.
The black rainstorm warning did not hamper art collectors’ enthusiasm as sales were made the minute Art Basel Hong Kong opened its doors for the first time on Wednesday.
Some galleries exhibiting at the first Hong Kong edition of the Swiss-owned modern and contemporary art fair reported encouraging sales results during the VIP preview, which took place immediately after Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying cut the ribbon at around noon.
Art collectors were seen racing against each other to get hold of the works they had already planned to buy. Besides well-known collectors such as Hong Kong’s David Tang, who was said to be throwing a dinner party for English super model Kate Moss, and Uli Sigg from Switzerland, yesterday’s afternoon VIP session was also a celebrity sighting occasion.
Radio DJ Jan Lamb, actor Shawn Yue, showbiz bad boy Edison Chen and actress Rosamund Kwan were spotted wandering at the fair. It was said the VIP sessions appeared to be less crowded due to Art Basel’s tight control over the entries of those who really spend money on art.