In a city where the monetary value of art generates more excitement than the art itself, it is easy to understand the huge buzz surrounding this week's Hong Kong International Art Fair (ARTHK10) and the various high-profile auctions taking place.
From Monet to Picasso, Lin Fengmian to Zhang Xiaogang, Yoshitomo Nara to Richard Long - to name just a few - the quality of the art selected, be it painting or photography or video or multimedia installation, should be enough to whet the appetite of increasingly sophisticated collectors and buyers in this region. These are not works that this city gets to see everyday.
But despite the millions of dollars worth of art that will go on sale, the fair is not all about money. There is a plethora of events organised by ARTHK, into its third instalment this year, that promise to stimulate and challenge the mind as well as entertain.
Asia Art Archive, for instance, will be bringing in more than a dozen prominent speakers from the art and cultural fields to discuss issues such as museum collections, private endowment in contemporary art and the role of art in social and political activism.
Renowned Australian filmmaker Baz Luhrmann will be putting in an appearance at 10 Chancery Lane Gallery to introduce his latest project - this time it's not a film but a surprising collaboration with award-winning painter Vincent Fantauzzo, another big name from the Antipodes.
Add British sculptor Antony Gormley, curator Hans Ulrich Obrist, artist Zhang and film score composer Simon Boswell to the VIP guest list and we have the most star-studded ARTHK yet.
Meanwhile, over at the auction previews, the spotlight will fall on the masterpieces while the Hong Kong Museum of Art will be showcasing the best of local talent in its Contemporary Art Biennial Awards 2009 exhibition. With close to 100 events taking place, here are some of the highlights.