Hong Kong property developers team up with artists to present installations and panel discussions

Hongkong Land, Swire Properties host art installations and panel discussions featuring stars Susan Sarandon and Victoria Beckham

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Two people walk past Zhu Jinshi's Boat at Exchange Square in Central. It is one of several installations in place for Art Basel, which will also feature exhibitions and panel discussions. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 11:45pm, 10 Mar 2015Updated: 12:37pm, 11 Mar 2015

Hong Kong property developers are jostling for prominence in this year's Art Basel arts festival with celebrities from show business and the arts world mingling with major exhibitions.

Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon and pop star and fashion icon Victoria Beckham will be in the city this weekend to take part in panel discussions alongside well-known artists, filmmakers and collectors.

US actress Susan Sarandon will be in the city this weekend. Photo: EPA

Hongkong Land takes the lead with two large exhibitions. The first, at its premises in Exchange Square, displays Zhu Jinshi's Boat, an 18-metre long and seven-metre high installation made of cotton, bamboo and rice paper.

The second, which opens at the Landmark tomorrow, will feature Take Another View on Art - a HK$140 million showcase of works by masters including Claude Monet, Marc Chagall, Zao Wou-ki and Zeng Fanzhi in an aerial structure designed by award-winning architect and artist William Lim.

Lim said: "The Art Basel week has been great for Hong Kong because it boosts Hong Kong's cultural scene."

Viewing art should not be limited to buying tickets for art fairs or works hidden behind the white walls of galleries and museums, he said.

"Art should belong to everyone. Making art part of our public environment is very important."