Your Complete Guide to Hong Kong's Art Events
Art fever is taking over the city, but what’s worth seeing and what’s worth skipping? Follow this itinerary to get the full-blown experience.
1. HK Walls
The city’s annual street art festival is back. This time, artists from all over the world will be hauling their spray cans and stencils to Sham Shui Po. Watch them bring the city’s oldest district alive with colorful patterns and paints—and if you can’t wait, head over to Sheung Wan now to check out the remnants of last year’s HKWalls in the area. Mar 21-27. Sham Shui Po (Cheung Sha Wan Rd. to Lai Chi Kok Rd. / Boundary St. to Nam Cheong St.), hkwalls.org.
2. Gormei Art Month
Gormei Art Month brings together two of the greatest pleasures in life: food and art. It features a range of art-meets-food events, including a ceramics and sake event: Artisan potters team up with Japan’s Yorozuya Sake Brewery to guide you through the artisanal crafts of both sake and ceramic making, and how they must be paired for the ultimate sake experience. Mar 23, 7:30-9:30pm. Waka Artisans, Shop S303, PMQ, 35 Aberdeen St., Central. $400 per person from gormei.com.
3. Hong Kong Art Gallery Night
Hong Kong’s best art galleries come together for their annual celebration, a sophisticated evening of wining and art-gazing. At Art Gallery Night, you’ll be able to check out a handful of new exhibition openings across town, performances, guided tours and talks—all with a glass of wine or champagne in hand, of course. Mar 21. Across 43 HKAGA Member Galleries. Free entry. hk-aga.org.
4. Art Central
Art Central moves into its second iteration this year, setting up its tents at Central against the beautiful backdrop of Victoria Harbour. Attracting a younger, more hipster crowd, Art Central is the place to go to get your fix of contemporary artworks, whether you’re a newbie art enthusiast or a devoted collector. Mar 21-26. Central Harbourfront Event Space, 9 Lung Wo Rd., Central. $230 for two from hkticketing.com.
5. Asia Contemporary Art Show
In the mood to part with a good load of your CNY pocket money? Stroll through four stories of art at the Conrad Hotel during the 8th edition of the Asia Contemporary Art Show. Held twice a year, 2016’s spring edition features 84 exhibitors from across Asia and worldwide, ranging from new artists to widely recognized names in the art world. The show will display more than 3,000 exclusive pieces including paintings, sculptures and photography. Mar 24-27. 40-43/F, Conrad Hong Kong, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty. $220 for two from hkticketing.com.
6. Art Basel
One of the largest art fairs in the world, Art Basel is the must-hit event this month. This year is its fourth iteration in the city, playing host to 239 of the world’s top art galleries with a variety of modern and contemporary art on display from more than 4,000 artists. Mar 24-26. HKCEC, 1 Expo Drive, Wan Chai. $180-850 from hkticketing.com.
Don't Miss
Tracey Emin
A British artist known for her eccentrically honest autobiographical artworks, Tracey Emin will be talking at an artist’s panel on Thursday. After the talk, check out her work at “I Cried Because I Love You”—Emin’s first solo exhibition in Greater China (Mar 21-May 21) at White Cube and Lehmann Maupin. Mar 24, 2-3pm, Art Basel Salon, artbasel.com.
Samson Young
Award-winning sound artist Samson Young displays a piece titled “So You are Old by the Time You Reach the Island.” The interactive exhibit takes the audience on a multimedia journey through Wan Chai and Admiralty, combining history, fiction and personal narrative through films, audio tracks, radio broadcasts and installation elements to create a time- and site-specific experience. March 24, hourly between 1.15—7.30pm. Starts at the BMW Lounge at Art Basel.
Take It to the Streets
Art is everywhere. Check out these street art and installation happenings around town. Best of all? They’re free.
Secret Walls X Hong Kong
Secret Walls, a group that hosts live street art battles worldwide, has been running for four years now in Hong Kong. This month, they’re presenting works on the ceiling of one of the city’s iconic trams (Tram 110, to be exact). This exhibition will run for six months—all you have to do is look up. See facebook.com/SecretWallsxHongKong for more.
Mong Kok’s Graffiti Wall (“Wall of Fame”)
Art doesn’t necessarily have to come with a hefty price. This relatively new graffiti spot in Mong Kok East has grown immensely popular for graffiti artists all around the world, with pieces by local and international artists ranging from abstract lettering to bright and bold illustrations. Alley between Argyle St. and Bute St., entrance just past the Argyle St. Waterworks Depot (111 Argyle St., Mong Kok).
Hong Kong on Steps
Seven groups of artists from five countries have brought this exhibition to PMQ’s (many) stairwells. The project aims to incorporate art into our lives by transforming stairs—a basic part of our daily commutes and an everyday necessity—into a canvas that pushes us to look at life differently. Through Apr 30, PMQ, 35 Aberdeen St., Central.
Event Horizon (Look Up) by Antony Gormley
You may have already glimpsed Antony Gormley’s Event Horizon public art installation, which spans all over Hong Kong’s Central and Western districts and features copies of the artist’s body standing atop buildings or at ground level. Gormley wants to encourage us to see the city from a new perspective—but can you find them all? Through May 18, Central and Western districts.
