Art Basel Hong Kong 2018 saw a strong collector turnout and vigorous sales across all sectors of the market. The sixth edition of Art Basel’s show in Hong Kong, which closed on Saturday, March 31, 2018, brought together a uniquely global mix of galleries spanning six continents, outstanding artworks by established and new artists from across the world and a singular gathering of international collectors and institutions, many of whom were first-time visitors to the show.
The 2018 edition featured 248 premier galleries from 32 countries and territories
This exceptional setting allowed for many new discoveries, in-depth conversations with existing and new patrons and enthusiasm about the interconnected art scenes across the world, resulting in galleries reporting strong sales at all levels of the market and throughout the duration of the fair. The show’s success is a true testament to the efforts exhibitors put into their presentations and their trust in an ever-more diversifying and strengthening Asian market. The fair, whose Lead Partner is UBS, took place at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), where it attracted an overall attendance of 80,000.
During the five show days, private collectors as well as representatives from over 100 leading international museums and institutions attended the show, including: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney; Castello di Rivoli Museum of Contemporary Art, Turin; Centre Pompidou, Paris; Dia Art Foundation, New York; Kunsthalle Basel; National Gallery Singapore; Serpentine Galleries, London; Sharjah Art Foundation; Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York; Taipei Fine Arts Museum; Tate, London; The Museum of Modern Art and MoMA PS1, New York; The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo; and Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane. With numerous gallery openings and a greatly expanded program of well-attended parallel events taking place throughout the city, the Art Basel week once more directed an international spotlight onto Hong Kong’s vibrant art scene.
The 2018 edition featured 248 premier galleries from 32 countries and territories, with 28 galleries participating in the show for the first time, including: 47 Canal, Miguel Abreu Gallery, Tanya Bonakdar Gallery, The Modern Institute, Barbara Wien, Dastan’s Basement, Don Gallery and Tarq. Reflecting Art Basel’s commitment to Asia-Pacific, nearly half of the participating galleries have exhibition spaces in the region, with an increased representation of galleries from India and the next generation of Chinese gallerists entering the fair.
Galleries who participated in the show spoke highly of their experiences and participation.
‘This was a fantastic week at the fair for the Lévy Gorvy team. We were already optimistic about Hong Kong, but once the week began, we were amazed by the level of passion and participation among collectors and foundations – and the public here, too. The growth of the collecting community in the region is astonishing and very encouraging.’ – Brett Gorvy, Co-Founder, Lévy Gorvy, London, New York.
‘There was a great energy at the fair this year. It brought many of the top international and Asian collectors who made important and considered purchases from the gallery. We
placed significant works by our American artists including John Baldessari, Barbara Kruger, Jenny Holzer, Sterling Ruby and Kaari Upson in major private Asian collections and museums.’ – Monika Sprüth, Co-Owner, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, London, Los Angeles
‘This year we have solidified our commitment to the Asian art scene with the opening of our Hong Kong gallery. We have enjoyed a dynamic week at our gallery space and at the fair with great sales generated at both. We have found that the quality and number of collectors attracted to Art Basel, and all it offers, strengthen year on year.’ – David Zwirner, Founder, David Zwirner, New York, London, Hong Kong
‘This was our first Art Basel fair in Hong Kong. There are only a few art fairs where we meet new collectors and Art Basel in Hong Kong is one of them. We have had serious interest and buying not only from our established US collectors but most significantly from new collectors from Mainland China and Hong Kong, as well as strong institutional interest and buying. It is a rare opportunity to present the work of our artists to a completely new audience.’ – Miguel Abreu, Founder and Owner, Miguel Abreu Gallery, New York
‘It has been a successful fair for us – we were very pleased to place multiple pieces with international institutions as well as with private collections in Europe, India, Hong Kong and the United States.’ – Priyanka Raja, Co-Founder, Experimenter, Kolkata
‘This year’s edition of the fair has been our best art fair since the founding of our gallery five years ago. We were thrilled to receive visits by more than 20 museum representatives, many of whom acquired works. Art Basel in Hong Kong helps cement Hong Kong’s position as Asia’s epicenter of contemporary art.’ – Chris Reynolds, Co-Founder, Ink Studio, Beijing
‘Art Basel drives the cultural agenda and art scene in Asia with its annual show in Hong Kong and attracts major collectors, influential curators and art lovers from across the globe.’ – Pearl Lam, Founder and Owner, Pearl Lam Galleries, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore
‘This has been our most successful year at Art Basel in Hong Kong to date. We had strong engagements with collectors from around the world and placed many important artworks in prominent private collections and museums in Asia.’ Alex Logsdail, International Director, Lisson Gallery, London, New York
‘We were excited to meet new collectors from Hong Kong, Asia and Europe and received a very positive and strong response to works we brought to the fair, selling over ten paintings and a sculpture in the first two days. It was a very successful debut for Juri Markkula in the Asian art scene, with several collectors competing for his largest piece.’ Henrietta Tsui-Leung, Co-Founder, Galerie Ora-Ora, Hong Kong
‘This year has truly felt like an inflection point for the city and for the fair. It’s clear that the changes that have happened over the last six years have taken this fair to a new level – drawing incredibly sophisticated collectors, curators, writers and artists.’ – Marc Glimcher, President, Pace Gallery, New York, Beijing, London, Hong Kong, Palo Alto, Seoul
‘We had a fantastic experience at this year’s edition of Art Basel in Hong Kong. This fair is a vital opportunity for us to share our artists’ work with the ever-increasing audience of Asian art lovers and collectors, as well as the international crowds that are always drawn to Art Basel, and we achieved strong sales this week.’ – Daniel Roesler, Partner and Senior Director, Galeria Nara Roesler, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, New York
‘This year is the continuation of a great success; the fair grows and grows with a reach that goes far beyond China. We have had encounters with collectors from exciting regions including Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Korea but also as far as Australia. This is the yearly event they cannot miss; it is the regional power fair for the Asia-Pacific region and the one destination where you are sure to meet all the key people.’ Thaddaeus Ropac, Founder and Director, Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac, London, Paris, Salzburg.