https://www.scmp.com/rss/21352/feed Your comprehensive guide to the latest trends and happenings surrounding Art Basel Hong Kong, the city’s largest annual contemporary art fair. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Grace Brewer Grace Brewer By midmorning in Kennedy Town, the small studio smells of coffee and warm sourdough. Around a small kitchen island, a group of Hongkongers knead dough in quiet concentration, phones forgotten, before washing their hands and drifting back to mixed-media canvases laid out beside paper scraps and paint. Artist and facilitator Eleanor McColl moves between them, demonstrating a fold in the dough here, a paint technique there. Later, they will sit down to an artisanal lunch of bread, cheese and pâté... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3354340/how-hong-kong-cancer-fund-and-artist-eleanor-mccoll-use-art-improve-health?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3354340/how-hong-kong-cancer-fund-and-artist-eleanor-mccoll-use-art-improve-health?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 May 2026 06:52:16 +0000 Andrea Lo Andrea Lo Five-star service? Check. Stylish spaces? Check. Fine-dining menus? Check. These opulent trappings are what’s expected from any luxury hotel, but increasingly, such establishments around the region are now positioning themselves as cultural incubators of the local art scene too. “We view our hotel as not just a place to stay, but as a living gallery,” says Edward E. Snoeks, general manager of The Hari Hong Kong. The Hari Art Prize, an initiative now in its third year, provides a platform for... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3350890/how-hotels-become-living-galleries-hong-kong-and-beyond?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3350890/how-hotels-become-living-galleries-hong-kong-and-beyond?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 22:00:11 +0000 Huang Qingchen Huang Qingchen Over the past few weeks, Hong Kong has offered a vivid demonstration of what it means to be a cultural hub. The city has transformed into a stage glittering with events that draws visitors from all across the world. The second Hong Kong International Cultural Summit, held on March 22-23, kicked off the season, attracting more than 1,000 thought leaders and members of the global art community for in-depth dialogue. Then Art Basel Hong Kong began, bringing together 240 galleries from 41 countries... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3353100/best-hong-kong-cultural-hub-yet-come?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3353100/best-hong-kong-cultural-hub-yet-come?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 01:30:05 +0000 Ben Young Ben Young Over the past few years, digital art has become a more integral part of the contemporary art scene. At this year’s Art Basel Hong Kong, this evolution was exemplified by Zero 10, the fair’s new curated space for digital practices that was a huge hit in Miami. Yet non-fungible tokens (NFTs), which became synonymous with digital art during a hype-driven, celebrity-endorsed asset bubble in 2021, have seen massive drop-offs in terms of both market cap and cultural relevance. This is due to multiple... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3352492/nft-hype-dead-its-tech-remains-useful-art-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3352492/nft-hype-dead-its-tech-remains-useful-art-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2026 22:00:12 +0000 Peter Shadbolt Peter Shadbolt Taking the temperature of the Hong Kong art market is rarely straightforward. While aggregate sales suggest cooling momentum, the resilience of blue-chip works – including the recent high-profile sale of The Great Wave off Kanagawa – shows that demand at the very top remains intact. In November 2025, a rare impression of Katsushika Hokusai’s Under the Wave off Kanagawa, better known as The Great Wave, sold for a record US$2.8 million (HK$21.7 million) at Sotheby’s Hong Kong. The result was all... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3351635/hong-kongs-art-market-resilience-proven-great-waves-us28-million-sale?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3351635/hong-kongs-art-market-resilience-proven-great-waves-us28-million-sale?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 22:00:16 +0000 Amanda Sheppard Amanda Sheppard Every year when Art Basel Hong Kong opens its doors, Hong Kong once again assumes its role as East Asia’s art world crossroads. Collectors, gallerists and curators from across the region converge on the city, reinforcing a perception that Hong Kong remains Asia’s most globally integrated art market. But beneath the spectacle lies a more nuanced question. What is Hong Kong’s position within an increasingly multicentred East Asian art ecosystem? From the vantage point of Asia Art Archive (AAA),... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3350942/hong-kongs-rise-east-asias-thriving-art-hub?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3350942/hong-kongs-rise-east-asias-thriving-art-hub?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 03:00:14 +0000 Bernard Chan Bernard Chan March is a highlight of Hong Kong’s cultural calendar. Last month, as I welcomed delegates to the International Cultural Summit during Art Week, many told me they had come to network with local and international collaborators and explore Hong Kong’s museums, galleries and performance venues. Tens of thousands attended Art Basel, Art Central, gallery openings, performances and other events across the city. The month also buzzed with jazz, opera, classical concerts and other performances, with the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350293/art-march-hong-kong-firmly-global-cultural-map?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350293/art-march-hong-kong-firmly-global-cultural-map?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 01:30:10 +0000 Gloria Fung Gloria Fung From being the industrial hub of Hong Kong Island’s south side to its transformation into a commercial and residential district, Wong Chuk Hang is one of the city’s key contemporary art hubs. Galleries like Sin Sin Fine Art, Ben Brown Fine Arts have called the neighbourhood home for close to two decades; these intimate gallery spaces make up a tight-knit art community, numbering around 26 galleries and art institutions (and growing). Wong Chuk Hang, with its relatively affordable rent and... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3350111/how-wong-chuk-hang-became-hong-kongs-answer-beijings-798?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3350111/how-wong-chuk-hang-became-hong-kongs-answer-beijings-798?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 07:15:11 +0000 Carolyn Yim Carolyn Yim Hong Kong is navigating a period of significant economic transition. The city is seeing a surge in family offices. It is an offshore renminbi hub and has one of the world’s most meaningful capital markets. However, it needs systemic change to attract and retain top talent, bring the Hong Kong diaspora back home and lure high-spending tourists. While our capital infrastructure is strong, our cultural infrastructure demands urgent attention. As outlined in China’s 15th five-year plan, the central... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3349328/why-securing-hong-kongs-economic-future-cultural-question?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3349328/why-securing-hong-kongs-economic-future-cultural-question?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Apr 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Enid Tsui Enid Tsui White gloves are traditionally given to an auctioneer if every single lot in a sale finds a buyer, a ceremonial touch that adds to the drama of these infrequent events. In March, during Hong Kong art week, the city saw two “white glove” auctions, which certainly raised hope that its multi-year auction market slump is finally over. The first of these milestone events occurred on March 27, when Christie’s 20th/21st Century Evening Sale was 100 per cent sold. The auction was led by Gerhard... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3349243/sold-out-auctions-suggest-hong-kongs-art-market-back-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3349243/sold-out-auctions-suggest-hong-kongs-art-market-back-it?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 23:15:10 +0000 Wilson Lau Wilson Lau Hong Kong’s art auctions in 2025 saw a shift to quality and selectivity, with Picasso and Nara works leading high-profile sales. Hong Kong’s live auction market opened 2025 with a striking sense of momentum, defined by breadth, competition and a confident interplay between modern, contemporary and classical Chinese art. By autumn, however, that early exuberance had evolved into something more deliberate. A maturing market – buoyed by regional optimism yet sharpened by global realities – shifted... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3348602/how-picasso-and-nara-are-driving-hong-kongs-live-art-auctions-record-highs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3348602/how-picasso-and-nara-are-driving-hong-kongs-live-art-auctions-record-highs?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 23:00:07 +0000 Enid Tsui Enid Tsui As the humidity settles over Hong Kong, a spectral spring mist veils Victoria Harbour. Yet, in the evenings, the luminous hand-drawn vision of Shahzia Sikander pierces the haze from the 110-metre-wide (328ft) LED facade of the M+ museum. Her nine-minute animation, 3 to 12 Nautical Miles (2026) – co-commissioned by M+ and Art Basel – stands as a monumental reflection on the mercantile ghosts embedded in the city. Sikander, a Pakistani-American winner of the MacArthur Fellowship, who last had an... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3349148/new-film-ms-giant-screen-asks-hongkongers-confront-their-imperial-past?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3349148/new-film-ms-giant-screen-asks-hongkongers-confront-their-imperial-past?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 07:15:09 +0000 Aaina Bhargava Aaina Bhargava In preparation for her first trip to Hong Kong, artist Nicole Eisenman has been watching a lot of 1990s Wong Kar-wai films. One in particular, Fallen Angels (1995), fully captivated the artist. “It’s the night time … the whole movie feels so dark,” says Eisenman of the neo-noir crime drama. “I know it sounds ridiculous, trying to learn about a city by watching a movie, but my idea of Hong Kong is very tied up with Wong Kar-wai right now. Everything seems to take place at night, and this darkness... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3348600/how-wong-kar-wais-noir-films-inspire-nicole-eisenmans-hong-kong-view?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3348600/how-wong-kar-wais-noir-films-inspire-nicole-eisenmans-hong-kong-view?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 07:15:10 +0000 Ashlyn Chak Ashlyn Chak In today’s climate of political unrest, how does the art world navigate instability across regions? For its inaugural show, Gold by Serakai Studio – a new art space in Hong Kong’s Wong Chuk Hang – has chosen to lean into the unpredictability. To its curators, uncertainty is not something to be avoided but to be embraced and created through experimentation and deviations from the norm. The exhibition’s tongue-in-cheek title, “Certainly”, is inspired by American artist-composer La Monte Young’s... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3348099/gold-serakai-studios-new-exhibition-certainly-leans-todays-unpredictability?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3348099/gold-serakai-studios-new-exhibition-certainly-leans-todays-unpredictability?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 04:45:08 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi China’s art market is showing tentative signs of recovery despite economic pressures, according to UBS, which cited rising participation from the next generation of wealthy families. “We have been seeing a rebound, with more trips for auctions and purchases [in China],” said Amy Lo Choi-wan, chairman of UBS Global Wealth Management Asia and CEO of UBS Hong Kong, in an exclusive interview with the South China Morning Post. “So I am optimistic.” Despite a prolonged property downturn and weak... https://www.scmp.com/business/money/markets-investing/article/3348293/sketching-recovery-chinas-art-market-puts-next-gen-buyers-frame-amid-slowdown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/money/markets-investing/article/3348293/sketching-recovery-chinas-art-market-puts-next-gen-buyers-frame-amid-slowdown?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:30:17 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu Last week, a friend and I chatted about our children’s favourite art pieces after happening upon an auction house’s exhibition in a building in the heart of Hong Kong’s business district. We both recalled stopping to look at Yayoi Kusama’s Mount Fuji prints. “I pass by the space twice every day,” my friend said. She told me that my son’s pick – a piece by Sam Francis – was a new installation, replacing what had been a display of handbags. How often do we pause to notice art, or enjoy life in... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3348095/hong-kong-can-draw-art-marchs-success-keeping-it-authentic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3348095/hong-kong-can-draw-art-marchs-success-keeping-it-authentic?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:30:11 +0000 Aidyn Fitzpatrick Aidyn Fitzpatrick Though it may not appear so, a battle takes place every March when Art Basel comes to Hong Kong’s Convention Centre. The fight isn’t over which gallery can sell more paintings or which collector writes the biggest cheques, but over whether the Greater Bay Area (GBA) can convince visitors that this corner of Southern China – expected to record more than US$2.15 trillion in economic output for 2025 – is not just a business powerhouse but a cultural one. GBA policymakers have embraced the lexicon... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3348138/how-art-basel-hong-kong-fuelling-greater-bay-areas-cultural-ambitions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3348138/how-art-basel-hong-kong-fuelling-greater-bay-areas-cultural-ambitions?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 22:00:15 +0000 Douglas Parkes Douglas Parkes In 2012, when Angelle Siyang-Le told her father she had taken a job with a company called Art Basel, his initial reaction wasn’t one of pride, but one of concern. “My dad was like, ‘OK, never heard of it,’” she recalls. The inquisitive parent researched the company address in Wan Chai and set off to find its office, only to come up empty, not realising the different company he found at that address was a co-working space. Perturbed, he promptly texted his daughter to warn her she’d been conned... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3348090/art-basel-hong-kongs-director-fairs-role-citys-cultural-scene?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3348090/art-basel-hong-kongs-director-fairs-role-citys-cultural-scene?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 04:50:30 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong’s month of celebrating art and culture is drawing to a close, but promises to end on a high. Art Basel, the prestigious international fair, opens on Friday and features 240 galleries from 41 countries and regions. It is the catalyst for a wide variety of other art events in March. The fair brings together artists, curators, galleries and other enthusiasts, fuelling the process of cultural exchange. A new five-year deal between the government and Art Basel is, therefore, a significant... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3347990/hong-kongs-celebration-art-and-culture-sends-powerful-message?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3347990/hong-kongs-celebration-art-and-culture-sends-powerful-message?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Jacqueline Kot Jacqueline Kot Artists from different generations contribute to the art world in ways that are often influenced by the key events of their times. Generation Y or Millennials, generally defined as people born between 1981 and 1996, grew up alongside the rise of the internet in more diverse, inclusive and liberal environments than previous generations. These defining characteristics have shaped, in different forms, the works of millennial artists exhibiting at Art Basel Hong Kong 2026. Creating a new... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3348015/art-basel-hong-kong-2026-millennial-artists-who-are-redefining-reality?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3348015/art-basel-hong-kong-2026-millennial-artists-who-are-redefining-reality?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 10:08:06 +0000 Vincenzo La Torre Vincenzo La Torre One of the most influential players in the art world, Pearl Lam is also known for her impeccable taste and personal style. Based between Shanghai and London, the Hong Kong-born founder of Pearl Lam Projects has recently made a foray into podcasting with The Pearl Lam Podcast, where she interviews artists, writers, designers and cultural figures. Before the opening of a new exhibition at her Hong Kong gallery for Art Basel 2026, she took some time to talk about her most treasured products and... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3347849/style-according-pearl-lam-hong-kong-born-founder-pearl-lam-galleries?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3347849/style-according-pearl-lam-hong-kong-born-founder-pearl-lam-galleries?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 04:00:12 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Hong Kong has held onto its crown as the exclusive regional home of Art Basel for the next five years, the culture minister has announced, after a deal was struck to secure the partnership as the city looks to enhance its status as an international art-trading hub. Some galleries at a preview for the local edition of the world-renowned annual art fair told the South China Morning Post that global uncertainties had prompted collectors to take a greater interest in buying works from established... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347906/hong-kong-holds-art-basel-crown-5-more-years-thanks-new-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347906/hong-kong-holds-art-basel-crown-5-more-years-thanks-new-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:20:04 +0000 Lee Hill-choi Lee Hill-choi Art Basel Hong Kong is the catalyst for multiple events across the city every spring. The final stretch of the month brings Art Week – and this year, the calendar beyond the main fair is more compelling than ever. From edible art to landmark retrospectives, street murals to archival treasures, here’s what not to miss. HKWalls Street Art Festival Until March 29 Now in its 11th edition, HKWalls transforms the Central and Western district into an open-air gallery with murals by international and... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3347832/hong-kong-art-week-beyond-art-basel-art-central-street-art-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3347832/hong-kong-art-week-beyond-art-basel-art-central-street-art-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 07:00:58 +0000 Jacqueline Kot Jacqueline Kot Art Basel Hong Kong 2026 is the pièce de résistance of Art Month, but beyond the annual international art fair, myriad free events around town contribute to making March the month to celebrate creativity. Collect Hong Kong Art Fair 2026 Hong Kong Arts Centre, until March 29 Presented by the Hong Kong Arts Centre and held across the Pao Galleries, The Showcase and Jockey Club Atrium venues at the centre, the Collect Hong Kong Art Fair is a platform to showcase up-and-coming local artists, Hong... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3347790/beyond-art-basel-best-hong-kongs-free-exhibitions-march?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3347790/beyond-art-basel-best-hong-kongs-free-exhibitions-march?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 04:00:33 +0000 Aaina Bhargava Aaina Bhargava Art Basel Hong Kong remains the leading fair and art event in Asia when it comes to discovering prominent, established and upcoming artists, particularly those who are from Asia or its diaspora. With the new sector, Echoes, featuring curated presentations by three artists or collectives as well as the Asia debut of Zero 10 dedicated to digital art, here is our selection of artists to look out for at the forthcoming fair. Aya Shalkar and Uuriintuya Dagvasambuu Art from Central Asia has been... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3347695/art-basel-hong-kong-previews-open-today-here-are-9-artists-look-out?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3347695/art-basel-hong-kong-previews-open-today-here-are-9-artists-look-out?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 22:00:16 +0000 Cat Nelson Cat Nelson This issue means a lot to me (you’ll understand by the end). Choosing what goes in our annual Art Issue is no small feat. While we’re never short of story opportunities in Hong Kong, we’re practically drowning in them come March every year as the global art world descends on the city. But when we heard Spanish photographer and artist Coco Capitán was coming to town for “Imagination Investments”, a three-part exhibition that marks her first major presentation in the city, we knew we had to speak... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3347292/week-postmag-artists-spain-hong-kong-stockholm-and-farewell?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3347292/week-postmag-artists-spain-hong-kong-stockholm-and-farewell?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 04:45:19 +0000 Enid Tsui,Ashlyn Chak Enid Tsui,Ashlyn Chak This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. With a surge of new venues and a relentless calendar of openings, navigating Hong Kong’s 2026 art week requires strategy. Here is our carefully curated shortlist. On the main stage Art Basel Hong Kong Art Basel Hong Kong remains the anchor of the season, with 240 exhibitors taking part. This year, two sectors have been added: “Echoes”, showing works made in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3347339/definitive-scmp-guide-navigating-hong-kong-art-week?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3347339/definitive-scmp-guide-navigating-hong-kong-art-week?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 03:15:08 +0000 Anna Lentchner Anna Lentchner The earliest works by 37-year-old Hong Kong artist Chan Wai-lap were meticulous, hand-drawn remnants of a bygone era – written school reports, dot matrix computer printouts and bottles of correction fluid. By immortalising these symbols of an analogue age, Chan tapped into his home city’s deep sense of nostalgia and innocence lost, and captured an aesthetic that has been quietly receding from the city’s social fabric. While these early works established Chan’s eye for detail, his ever-expanding... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3347320/hong-kong-artist-inspired-swimming-pools-invites-you-slow-down?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3347320/hong-kong-artist-inspired-swimming-pools-invites-you-slow-down?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 23:15:14 +0000 Gloria Tso Gloria Tso Something about curved lines with a cheeky twist makes you stop in your tracks walking down the street in Hong Kong. It’s easy to be desensitised to the world these days, but it’s still possible to be surprised by street artist Lousy’s drawings, which might fool you at first glance with their subversive simplicity. His are a clever take on surrealism served with a knowing wink on the side, from his signature “kiss face” once plastered on a doorway in Peel Street to his primal, hieroglyph-like... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3347319/how-lousy-bringing-satire-surrealism-and-cheeky-graffiti-hong-kongs-streets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3347319/how-lousy-bringing-satire-surrealism-and-cheeky-graffiti-hong-kongs-streets?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 04:00:17 +0000 Grace Brewer Grace Brewer As Hong Kong’s Art Month pulses through March, the city’s F&B scene is responding with inventive menus and experiences that fuse culinary craft with cultural inspiration – from artist‑themed tasting menus and hand‑painted tea pairings to interactive dinners and cocktail galleries. These art-infused highlights, spanning Central’s bar streets to landmark hotel lounges, offer the city’s foodies fresh ways to sip, savour and celebrate the creative zeitgeist this month. Aberdeen Street’s Cultural... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3347301/5-art-inspired-menus-indulge-during-hong-kongs-art-month?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3347301/5-art-inspired-menus-indulge-during-hong-kongs-art-month?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 10:00:52 +0000 Sarah Keenlyside Sarah Keenlyside “I think all artists are incredibly selfish,” says Coco Capitán from her home in Stoke Newington on a typically dreary Friday morning in London. “Art is a very self-involved activity. You’re constantly thinking about what you’re going to create next and what you have to say for yourself. It’s tiring. Sometimes my biggest dream is not to be an artist any more. But I don’t think I chose to be one, I just think I couldn’t be anything else.” She may sound like she’s on a bit of a downer – Capitán... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3347124/artist-coco-capitan-selfish-art-bad-bunny-and-her-hong-kong-debut-show?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3347124/artist-coco-capitan-selfish-art-bad-bunny-and-her-hong-kong-debut-show?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 08:00:11 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li With two weeks of Hong Kong’s art month remaining, the city will continue to host a rich array of events, from a pop culture convention to a slew of exhibitions. The South China Morning Post highlights some of the shows taking place in the rest of March. From ComplexCon to classical concerts Pop culture festival ComplexCon will return to Hong Kong for its third edition on March 21 and 22, with headliners including Jennie from K-pop powerhouse Blackpink and American rapper Yeat, making his Asian... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3346632/blackpinks-jennie-art-basel-cj-hendry-top-hong-kong-events-catch-march?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3346632/blackpinks-jennie-art-basel-cj-hendry-top-hong-kong-events-catch-march?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 05:00:09 +0000 Chloe Loung,Enid Tsui Chloe Loung,Enid Tsui If the last two years were about saying “we are back”, this year’s Hong Kong “art week” has a more exploratory vibe, as a wave of new initiatives brings fresh ways to appreciate art and design. Here is a list of the bold first-timers creating a buzz on the fringes of Art Basel Hong Kong, the city’s flagship art fair that starts on March 25. 1. Central Yards Edible Art Fair This is where art is a full-sensory experience. Hong Kong’s first Central Yards Edible Art Fair will occupy a 20,000 sq ft... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3344867/6-new-fairs-galleries-and-pop-ups-making-hong-kong-art-week-bigger-and-bolder?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3344867/6-new-fairs-galleries-and-pop-ups-making-hong-kong-art-week-bigger-and-bolder?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 03:15:08 +0000 Cheung Hok-hang Cheung Hok-hang Qatar, a gas-powered Gulf state, has long punched well above its weight. The Islamic country is a major diplomatic player on the world stage, mediating conflicts ranging from Gaza ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas to peace negotiations between the Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. The Gulf nation’s state-funded broadcaster, Al Jazeera, has wielded huge international influence through its reporting, while its recent hosting of mega-sporting events – headlined by the 2022 Fifa World Cup –... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3343686/doha-middle-easts-next-art-hub-city-aims-high-art-basel-qatar-new-museums?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3343686/doha-middle-easts-next-art-hub-city-aims-high-art-basel-qatar-new-museums?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 09:15:07 +0000 Ashlyn Chak Ashlyn Chak There is a large commercial space at street level in the heart of Hong Kong Island’s southern Wong Chuk Hang neighbourhood whose interesting and rather random history lends it a somewhat mysterious air. The high-ceilinged, 3,500 sq ft (325 square metre) unit on the ground floor of the Remex Centre, a large industrial building just in front of an MTR station, was previously occupied by a gold and jewellery shop that was almost exclusively patronised by tour groups from mainland China. Before... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3334020/how-new-cultural-salon-gold-will-reflect-hong-kongs-changing-art-scene?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3334020/how-new-cultural-salon-gold-will-reflect-hong-kongs-changing-art-scene?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Nov 2025 08:15:08 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa As summer winds down, art fairs are filling the autumn calendar with a host of events, from one of the oldest Asian art fairs to a visual deep-dive into the nature of water and a European rumination on the Asian diaspora. Amid global economic uncertainties, these fairs remain vital places for exchange among artists, galleries, collectors and the public, where they can appreciate the cultural force of creativity. 1. Frieze Seoul Taking place at Coex, the Convention and Exhibition Centre in... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3324067/showtime-7-must-see-art-exhibitions-autumn?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3324067/showtime-7-must-see-art-exhibitions-autumn?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Sep 2025 12:00:08 +0000 Jacqueline Kot Jacqueline Kot There is no doubt that architecture is a creative discipline. Once you factor in the technical aspects crucial to the process, it is even more impressive that art and engineering can come together for a visual spectacle with a civic purpose. Throughout history, there is no shortage of such examples, whether it is the buildings by Antoni Gaudí in Barcelona or modern landmarks such as Hong Kong’s very own M+ museum by Herzog & de Meuron. Hence, there is no reason we can’t appreciate architectural... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3314326/louvre-paris-hong-kongs-m-finding-art-architecture?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3314326/louvre-paris-hong-kongs-m-finding-art-architecture?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Jul 2025 02:00:10 +0000 John Cremer John Cremer Hong Kong’s cluster of newly built world-class galleries and museums in West Kowloon offer an ever-enticing series of exhibitions to attract local art lovers and visitors from around the globe. Somewhat overlooked amid all of the current activity and excitement, however, is the seminal role played by the Hong Kong institution that got the ball rolling, and the generosity of a distinguished philanthropist who wanted to give back to the community. When it opened in 1962, City Hall Art Gallery &... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3315586/how-hkmoa-became-hong-kongs-first-public-art-gallery-private-donation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3315586/how-hkmoa-became-hong-kongs-first-public-art-gallery-private-donation?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Jun 2025 22:15:15 +0000 John Batten John Batten The 19th Hong Kong Arts Development Awards were held at Hong Kong City Hall on June 10, organised by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC). This annual event acknowledges achievements in many categories, but as an art critic, I was watching the visual arts prizes closely. The artist of the year award (visual arts) went to Enoch Cheng Tak-yan, while the young artist award (visual arts) went to Dony Cheng Hung. Cash prizes of HK$50,000 (US$6,400) and HK$25,000 respectively were... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3315433/what-hong-kong-arts-development-awards-need-learn-art-basels?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3315433/what-hong-kong-arts-development-awards-need-learn-art-basels?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Jun 2025 08:15:07 +0000 Annemarie Evans Annemarie Evans Children tend to glimpse little fairies, men start to cry, some see mountains, valleys, Asian temples, the sweep of a dragon, rivers and rainfall. Others perceive their own memories, a vision of themselves, a portal into their soul. The work of London-born contemporary artist Jessica Zoob summons multiple reactions and emotions in viewers of her evocative paintings, created over a number of years, often with around 40 layers of oil paint. On the same canvas have been multiple paintings often... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3315146/jessica-zoob-wants-you-connect-her-art-her-hong-kong-studio?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3315146/jessica-zoob-wants-you-connect-her-art-her-hong-kong-studio?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Jun 2025 01:00:12 +0000 Amalissa Hall Amalissa Hall Textiles are one of the oldest forms of art and an integral facet of society, serving as clothing, furnishings and items to trade. Despite the intricacies of weaving, embroidery, felting, spinning and braiding, it is a talent historically considered as “women’s work”, and often disregarded within the classical realm of traditional art – that being paintings and sculptures. Today, we’re seeing a shift in the perspective of what textiles represent. In an increasingly digitised world – where the... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3314734/how-contemporary-artists-are-reviving-ancient-art-textiles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3314734/how-contemporary-artists-are-reviving-ancient-art-textiles?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Jun 2025 22:15:11 +0000 Gloria Fung Gloria Fung There’s no arguing that 2024 was challenging for the art world. In a recent report, consultancy firm Artprice revealed that art sales dropped by a third compared with 2023, to US$9.9 billion. This figure, the lowest since 2009, reflects the ebb and flow of the global economy. “The overall art market is currently more conservative,” says Meiling Lee, head of modern and contemporary art, Asia, at Phillips. “Art collectors are cautious about investment, hoping to make no mistakes and looking for... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3314110/auction-houses-see-push-blue-chip-contemporary-and-asian-artists?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3314110/auction-houses-see-push-blue-chip-contemporary-and-asian-artists?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Jun 2025 04:52:33 +0000 Gayatri Bhaumik Gayatri Bhaumik With viewers bingeing popular Netflix shows like Chef’s Table and Somebody Feed Phil, and three-Michelin-star restaurants like Copenhagen’s Noma and Modena’s Osteria Francescana becoming part of the cultural zeitgeist, there’s arguably no more relevant time to consider the relationship between food and art. Add in the fact that social media is dominated by increasingly creative food content – eagerly tracked by users looking for dining recommendations, and by restaurants looking to lure diners –... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3313045/food-art-how-hong-kong-creatives-are-bridging-gap?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3313045/food-art-how-hong-kong-creatives-are-bridging-gap?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Jun 2025 09:34:11 +0000 Ben Young Ben Young In spite of an open letter signed by over 6,500 artists, demanding the cancellation of Augmented Intelligence – Christie’s artificial intelligence (AI) art auction that ran from February 20 to March 5 – the event was a commercial success, bringing in more than US$728,000, with 28 of the 34 displayed pieces sold. The letter, written to auction hosts Nicole Sales Giles and Sebastian Sanchez, stated: “Many of the artworks you plan to auction were created using AI models that are known to be trained... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3312124/there-place-ai-art-these-hong-kong-artists-say-yes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3312124/there-place-ai-art-these-hong-kong-artists-say-yes?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 May 2025 08:40:13 +0000 Grace Brewer Grace Brewer If you’re familiar with the local affordable art scene, you’ll recognise Hong Kong-themed prints – like Sophia Hotung’s The Hong Konger covers, Kitty Wong’s playful pencil illustrations and Michael Kan’s urban sketches – that pop up everywhere from Bookazine and Goods of Desire to the M+ museum gift shop. What you may not know is that these creators are part of a fast-growing community of more than 100 Hong Kong-based artists, working in a wide range of mediums. Taking “home-grown” to the next... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3311238/how-hong-kong-arts-collective-provides-opportunities-and-community-citys-creatives?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3311238/how-hong-kong-arts-collective-provides-opportunities-and-community-citys-creatives?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 May 2025 09:56:29 +0000 Aidyn Fitzpatrick Aidyn Fitzpatrick Poly Culture Group Corporation partnered with casino operator MGM to open the 2,000-square-metre Poly MGM Museum last November, with a launch exhibition on the Maritime Silk Road featuring some 230 artefacts from 20 international museums and galleries. Until late last month, the display included four of the famed bronze zodiac heads from Beijing’s Old Summer Palace. It’s a culture-forward move by both parties, Poly Culture Group being the art and antiques unit of a vast Chinese state-run... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3309202/macaus-poly-mgm-museum-draws-huge-crowds-hi-tech-maritime-silk-road-exhibition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3309202/macaus-poly-mgm-museum-draws-huge-crowds-hi-tech-maritime-silk-road-exhibition?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 May 2025 22:15:07 +0000 Sarah Keenlyside Sarah Keenlyside They may not realise it, but Rosamond and Ben Brown make an entertaining double act. The mother-and-son duo have made art their life’s work, and where their tastes converge, trouble ensues. As our photographer asks the pair to pose at Ben’s house in London’s Notting Hill, 88-year-old Rosamond suddenly spots something she likes. “I love the Tony Bevan,” she says, noting the piece by the prominent British artist above the mantle. “Have you got a spare one for me, for my new flat?” When her son... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3309535/inside-rosamond-and-ben-browns-art-world-empire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3309535/inside-rosamond-and-ben-browns-art-world-empire?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 May 2025 06:00:13 +0000 Gayatri Bhaumik Gayatri Bhaumik Using art to create focal points and atmosphere in restaurants is hardly groundbreaking. But some of Hong Kong’s best restaurants go above and beyond when it comes to decorating their walls. Rather than being an afterthought, the works displayed are the result of a cohesive effort from restaurant owners, designers and curators to create a multisensory experience encompassing food, drink and the visual arts. But what does it take to curate these collections? First: purpose. At Golden Gip – a new... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3309196/hong-kong-restaurants-art-more-just-decorative?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3309196/hong-kong-restaurants-art-more-just-decorative?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 May 2025 22:15:08 +0000 Richard Lord Richard Lord Take a stroll around the streets of Hong Kong a couple of decades ago and the amount of street art you’d have seen would be close to zero. A smattering of graffiti, yes, but almost no walls where businesses had commissioned artworks for commercial purposes. Today, the situation couldn’t be more different. Hong Kong is covered in street art of all descriptions, with hotspots from SoHo and Sheung Wan – including perhaps most Insta-famous of all, artist Alex Croft’s Graham Street mural for homeware... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3308310/why-brands-and-businesses-are-embracing-street-art-culture-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3308310/why-brands-and-businesses-are-embracing-street-art-culture-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Apr 2025 22:15:07 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li The success of mega-events under Hong Kong’s “Super March” tourism campaign paints a “promising” picture of the city’s economic future, a leading business insights provider has said, adding that Art Basel had brought in the wealthiest visitors under the drive at an average monthly income of about HK$44,000 (US$5,700). But a lawmaker and economist both warned that the city should avoid becoming overreliant on such fixtures to boost its struggling business sector. MDRi, part of the UK-based... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3307967/super-march-tourism-campaign-paints-promising-picture-hong-kong-economy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3307967/super-march-tourism-campaign-paints-promising-picture-hong-kong-economy?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Apr 2025 10:54:09 +0000