Enid Tsui

Opinion | My verdict on Hong Kong Art Week: security laws much discussed. So is tacky public art

Visitors from mainland China called out Hong Kong for trying to look like any other Chinese city, and for pandering to selfie-takers. They have every right to

As for art fairs, buyers appear to have been cautious, as were some artists when it came to new security laws, but these didn’t stop vibrant art being shown

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Visitors admire artworks at Art Basel Hong Kong, the highlight of Art Week in the city, as the contemporary art fair opens for public visitors at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. Photo: Eugene Lee

Enid Tsui

Published: 7:45am, 4 Apr 2024

There were certainly different opinions among visitors who came for Art Week, the annual round of Hong Kong fairs and openings just before Easter.

Some claimed they had witnessed the city’s resurrection, others left with a more sombre impression.

Here is my take on the main conversation topics.

1 Was Art Basel Hong Kong a flop or a hit?

Art fairs may have public days, but don’t be fooled. Transactions are still secretive and fewer than a quarter of the 242 galleries taking part in Art Basel Hong Kong volunteered sales reports this year.

Those reports included multimillion-dollar deals (for example, a Willem de Kooning sold for US$9 million at Hauser & Wirth’s booth and three Yayoi Kusamas at Victoria Miro for a combined US$11 million) but most were below the US$100,000 mark.

Members of the public admire artworks at Art Basel Hong Kong, where the serious business was done away from the public eye. Despite some big-ticket sales, buyers appear to have shown more caution this year. Photo: Eugene Lee

Gallery owners found buyers to be more cautious, perhaps less hasty than during the boom years. But some, such as first-time exhibitor YveYang Gallery – which also showed at Supper Club, the new art fair – were pleasantly surprised.