The Works：Feature on Art Basel & Art Central 2015

For those of who work in the visual arts in particular the past few weeks have been hectic, but art lovers have been spoiled for choice. The annual Art Basel Hong Kong, held in May in previous years, this year moved to March. To coincide with that mammoth fair, many other art groups have moved their assorted open days and events to the same period. As always, Art Basel itself is being held here, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. 233 galleries from 37 countries and territories are taking part. Half are from Asia. Testifying to the fair’s success, 94% of the exhibitors who were here last year have returned.
Knowing that more international buyers, critics, and art lovers will be in town for Art Basel, many other local groups have arranged their annual events to coincide with their visit.
Along the waterfront from the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre is this new satellite fair, Art Central. Staged in a 10,000 square metre tent, this fair features 75 galleries. 65% of them are from the Asia Pacific region. Nineteen are from Hong Kong. Before Art Basel Hong Kong, there was the annual Art Hong Kong fair. The Swiss group that runs Art Basel bought out Art Hong Kong in 2014 and turned it into today’s Art Basel Hong Kong. The organisers of Art Central were part of the team that founded the original Art Hong Kong eight years ago. They stress they are not out to compete with Art Basel, but to offer a younger, funkier art fair that focuses on less established artists.