Art Basel Hong Kong ‘definitely going ahead’, says fair director, but will be smaller, with fewer visitors
- ‘Satellite booths’ staffed by Art Basel representatives will allow exhibitors to take part without having to physically be in Hong Kong
- Despite industry gossip and the imposition of Hong Kong’s national security law, director Adeline Ooi is confident that Art Basel will remain in the city
MCH Group, the Swiss company that runs international art fair Art Basel, announced in January that the flagship fair in Basel would be postponed from June to September. It didn’t mention any delay to the Hong Kong edition opening on May 19, which drew incredulity in some circles.
Galleries were supposed to have signed up to participate by March 4. On March 3, Nick Simunovic, director of Gagosian Gallery Hong Kong, said it was still undecided about signing up. Few overseas collectors are willing to put up with Hong Kong’s three-week hotel quarantine for people from outside China, and there is no word on when the border with mainland China will reopen.
Ooi says pent-up demand from overseas galleries has seen quite a few (an exact number has not been finalised) sign up for new “satellite booths” staffed by Art Basel’s representatives. These booths allow exhibitors to take part without having to physically be in Hong Kong. The fair will be smaller than usual, she concedes.
Among those who have signed up for a satellite booth is Jasdeep Sandhu, the Singaporean owner of Gajah Gallery. Silverlens Galleries in Manila, in the Philippines, is going to share a booth with Hong Kong-based gallery Rossi & Rossi.
“Physical art fairs create a lot of energy around art. This is what we miss with the online fairs,” says Silverlens’ co-founder Isa Lorenzo.