Art gallery, artist residencies, a restaurant: cancer made an art collector question his contribution to society. Now he’s found the answer in Nexx Asia

In 2022 while in hospital for cancer treatment, Hong Kong-based art collector Wong Chi-hang felt he ‘hadn’t done anything to contribute to the next generation’

He is remedying that with Nexx Asia. For now it is an exhibition space in Taipei, but he has plans for an artist residency space, a resort and a restaurant

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In 2022, art collector Wong Chi-hang decided he “hadn’t done anything to contribute to the next generation”. He is remedying that with Nexx Asia. At the moment, it is an exhibition space in Taipei, but he plans to expand it soon. Photo: Edmond So

Published: 4:15pm, 3 Sep 2023Updated: 10:13am, 7 Sep 2023

One day, in early 2022, Wong Chi-hang was lying in a hospital bed, about to undergo treatment for a rare form of cancer.

“I had all kinds of flashbacks, thinking about what I’d done with my life,” says the Hong Kong-based art collector, known to his friends as “B”.

“I thought I couldn’t have asked for anything more. I have good friends and family; I’ve enjoyed my life. But one thing that struck my heart was that I have so many resources, I have such a great network, but I hadn’t done anything to contribute to the next generation.”

Now in remission, Wong is working to remedy that.

Wong Chi-hang at Cardinal Point in Central. Photo: Edmond So

This January, he launched Nexx Asia, a 10,000 sq ft (930 square metre) exhibition space in the heart of Taipei, in Taiwan. Wong wants to develop Nexx Asia into a continent-spanning organisation that will bring together art, food, hospitality and more.

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