Dealers back Art Basel Hong Kong cancellation over coronavirus; Hong Kong galleries see chance for local art to shine
- ‘Inevitable’, ‘necessary’, ‘the right decision’ – international art dealers back move by organisers to scrap art fair because of fallout from disease crisis
- Their Hong Kong counterparts, who will proceed with shows scheduled to coincide with Art Basel, regret loss of fair but see a chance to promote the city’s art
The cancellation of Art Basel Hong Kong because of the coronavirus outbreak, announced early on Friday, won strong support from international art galleries that had been due to take part. Local art galleries vowed to press ahead with exhibitions timed to coincide with the fair.
With the death toll and infections from the coronavirus continuing to rise, mainly in China, Fabio Pink, a representative of Galerie Peter Kilchmann in Zurich, Switzerland, voiced relief at the decision, calling it “correct but also inevitable”.
“On the other hand it’s sad and frustrating, as we already invested so much work and energy into it. It is also a financial loss, as we will get only 75 per cent of the participating fees back,” he said.
Pink acknowledged that had next month’s contemporary art fair – the biggest of its kind in the region, which last year drew 88,000 visitors – not been cancelled, “costs in order to participate in the fair, lack of collectors visiting, and health concerns would have further added to losses”.
