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Hong Kong International Art Fair 2012
by: Andrea Lo
Having been steadily gaining global recognition as a premium destination for fine art in Asia, the annual International Art Fair was hosted in the city of Hong Kong over the past weekend.
With its status as the third-largest art auction centre in the world after New York City and London, the Art Fair featured a number of openings, events, panels and debates. Drawing in a number of leading artists, collectors and curators from the international art world, the 4-day event showcased exhibitions by prominent art galleries and also saw pieces exchange ownership in major sales of up to US$1 million.
Exhibitions that were featured in the Art Fair include 266 galleries hailing from 38 regions, one of which was the New York-based Marian Goodman Gallery, which displayed the works of such artists as Gerhard Richter, Thomas Struth and William Kentridge, amongst others. Established in 1977 and endeavouring to bring European artworks to American audiences, the Gallery was in the company of other influential galleries such as the Gagosian and Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin. Indeed, the Hong Kong Art Fair could not have been a better platform for the Gallery to showcase its artists; it also provided the opportunity in attracting wider interest and recognition for their work.
The string of prominent galleries featuring at the International Art Fair does not only afford art aficionados with the chance to catch a glimpse of the works of world renowned artists, but also has significant implications for the city’s “living art culture.” As the Director of this year’s fair, Magnus Renfrew, puts it, “[the galleries] have strengthened an already vibrant gallery scene in Hong Kong, and are a reflection that the international art world recognises the importance of Hong Kong as the location to launch their commercial activities in Asia.” Crucially, the city’s thriving art culture is also an indicator of its growing influence on the global art scene as a whole.
For more information, go to hongkongartfair.com
