Art Basel week is fast approaching and, with countless exhibitions and events happening across Hong Kong, we’ve picked a few highlights to help you narrow down your art itinerary. Art Basel Hong Kong The Hong Kong edition of Art Basel isn’t quite back to its pre-pandemic levels of 240-plus galleries yet, but there will still be plenty to check out. This year will see 130 exhibitors from 28 countries and territories – including 15 first-timers such as Galería Cayón from Madrid in Spain and Catinca Tabacaru from Bucharest in Romania – at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Hong Kong Island. It will be interesting to see whether international art collectors will return for the fair, or if they remain reluctant to tolerate the city’s mandatory seven-day hotel quarantine. The public days for visiting are May 27-29. Look out for Hong Kong artist GayBird’s sound installation at Hanart TZ Gallery; a large-scale work based on Hong Kong’s “goldfish street” by Angel Hui Hoi-kiu at Alisan Fine Arts; Silverlens’ presentation of female artists Nicole Coson, Yee I-Lann and Dina Gadia from the Asia-Pacific region; and Lehmann Maupin’s booth presenting work by Tom Friedman. Friedman’s 33-foot (10-metre) augmented reality sculpture, Looking Up , can also be experienced through your smartphone at a number of locations, including Times Square in Causeway Bay and Harbour City in Tsim Sha Tsui, until June. Catch the 60th anniversary exhibition of the Asian Cultural Council Hong Kong featuring alumni like Pak Sheung-chuen, Lam Tung-pang, Au Hoi-lam and Morgan Wong. 31 women contemporary artists working in Hong Kong celebrated Art Central The long-running satellite fair to Art Basel is taking place from May 26-29 and has a section put together by local curator Qu Chang called “Yi Tai” – which includes six large-scale sculptures and installations – that is sure to attract a lot of attention. It has also lined up a compelling talks programme featuring well-known local practitioners and performances by artists Joseph Lee and Kiwi Chan. Local artists exhibiting include Sara Tse at Touch Gallery and Afa Annfa, an emerging artist on show at JPS Gallery – which is also showing Adam Linn from the US. Meanwhile, Hong Kong-based Lee du Ploy and Zambian artist David Makala address issues of race, power and identity in their works at first-time exhibitor Mwimbi Fine Art from Lusaka, Zambia. Spring auctions previews If you fancy seeing a very different mix of art and collectibles, head over to the Christie’s auctions preview while at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The sales, which take place from May 21-30, include highlights like Pablo Picasso’s Buste d’homme dans un cadre (1969), Claude Monet’s Saule pleureur (1918-1919) and Adrian Ghenie’s Pie Fight Interior 12 (2014) . Over at Pacific Place in Admiralty, auction company Bonhams is previewing its May-to-June auctions, which include Dunhuang Musicians – a large painting from the 1950s by Chinese modern master Lin Fengmian. The preview is open from May 21-June 2 at Bonham’s exhibition space on 20/F, One Pacific Place, Admiralty, Hong Kong Island. Christie’s move to new Asia HQ allows year-round auctions The Shape of Light at M+ Museum From now until the third week of July, viewers near and far will be able to watch filmmaker Ellen Pau’s The Shape of Light (2022) on the giant facade of the M+ Museum . Jointly commissioned by M+ and Art Basel, the video shows a 14-minute Buddhist meditation in which a futuristic being recites the “Heart Sutra” in sign language. The Shape of Light will be on view from 7pm-9pm from May 20-June 20. Afterwards, it will be shown on weekends until the third week of July. It is also available on the M+ YouTube channel. ‘Minding the G(r)a(s)p’ at Para Site The press release for the exhibition leads with a screen caption from a video by C&G Artpartment – the artistic duo now living in the UK – that reads: “If this video could still be played, then we should be fine.” The fact that the C in C&G is Clara Cheung Ka-lai, a former pro-democracy district councillor, makes this image a strong comment on censorship under Hong Kong’s national security law. But the first show to open after Billy Tang joined as director of Para Site is not really about making statements. Works by Eastman Cheng, Chow Chun-fai, Jaffa Lam, Lau Hok-shing, Lulu Ngie, Wong Wai-yin and even C&G are more to do with capturing the sense of uncertainty in the air and challenging the usual power dynamics between audience, artist and curator. The exhibition is on view until August 14. ‘Specters’ by Luke Casey at Tomorrow Maybe In celebration of art month, Eaton HK’s art space in Jordan, Kowloon, is showing “Specters” by Luke Casey – a director and photographer who has worked with international fashion brands like Marc Jacobs and Calvin Klein. His photography and film exhibition will explore the connection between the spiritual and physical world. Until July 10. ‘From Street to Knit’ at D2 Place Part of this year’s French May Arts Festival, this exhibition features street art by French artists Binokl, Le CyKlop and Hong Kong-based Bao Ho, as well as creations by the “Laws Knitters” – a division under apparel manufacturer Laws Group that is aimed at reviving the knitwear industry. “From Street to Knit” is open from May 24-June 9 at The Garage, D2 Place Two, Cheung Sha Wan. Oil Street Art Space North Point is welcoming the new extension of the Oil Street Art Space (Oi!), which launched 10 art projects on May 24. Korean art group D’strict fuses art and technology with their anamorphic projection works of ocean waves and a blue whale, while American architectural group Diller Scofidio and Renfro is showing Joyful Trees (Arbores Laetae) , a kinetic art installation of Chinese juniper trees (three of which rotate). Visitors are encouraged to consider the rhythmic patterns of shadow and light, as well as the relationship between the natural and the unnatural. Five Hong Kong artists have contributed to “Digital Muse”, an exhibition guest curated by media artist Ng Tsz-kwan. Located on the Oi! Deck, the collective digital installation features multidisciplinary works based on the “mutation of ideas in the digital city”. Find the new art projects at 12 Oil Street, North Point.