Karin Weber, HKAGA Vice President
Formed out of a strong need to represent the interests of the art industry in the city, the Hong Kong Art Gallery Association (HKAGA) is a non-profit group that was established in October to present a unified voice for the showrooms in the city. Vice president Karin Weber talks to Erica Obersi about HKAGA’s mission and plans for the local community.
HK Magazine: What is the concept behind HKAGA?
Karin Weber: Our group consists of 57 member galleries, and we want to be the unified voice that talks to government officials about the art world—like their plan to turn the former police married quarters on Hollywood Road into an arts and culture hub. We have two board members working to realize that plan.
HK: How would you describe your relationship with the art community?
KW: We want to bring art and the local community closer together. We want to remove the intimidating feeling of visiting galleries, because it is for everyone to experience. We will be hosting speaker series, university dialogues and workshops in the coming months to engage with a wider audience.
HK: What has been the effect of mainland Chinese art buyers on the galleries you represent?
KW: It’s been minimal because Chinese buyers want big-name artists, while our member galleries feature an eclectic mix of works—some by big names, some by graduate students that are just getting their foot in the door. Of course some galleries are dealing in millions, but that is not generally the case.
HK: A lot of people worry that the art for sale may not be original. How do you overcome this issue?
KW: Members of the association will display the HKAGA logo to show that the works on display are guaranteed to be authentic. The public will come through our door with the feeling that we are dealing in original art of the highest standard. There are horror stories of people investing money in counterfeit goods; we want people to be assured that we have the real deal.
HK: What upcoming events are you looking forward to?
KW: Dr. Lars Nittve, executive director of the upcoming M+ Museum in West Kowloon Cultural District, will be giving our inaugural speech as part of the collector speaker series on January 29. M+ won’t be open until 2015, but we’re looking forward to promoting Hong Kong as the new mecca for art.
Find out more about the HKAGA