Art Basel HongKong 香港巴塞尔艺术博览会
Art Basel Hong Kong, started in 2013, rapidly ascended to prominence, becoming a cornerstone event in the Asian art scene. As the Asian counterpart to its esteemed Swiss and American siblings, this fair has effectively bridged the East and West, offering a prestigious platform for showcasing a diverse range of contemporary artworks from leading international and regional galleries. Its inception marked a significant milestone for the Asian art market, amplifying visibility for Asian artists and galleries on a global stage while attracting a wealthy confluence of collectors, curators, and art enthusiasts. Over the years, Art Basel Hong Kong has played a pivotal role in the development and appreciation of contemporary art across Asia, setting benchmarks for quality and innovation and fostering a vibrant cultural exchange that enriches the global art dialogue.
The fair this year, successfully returning to its pre-pandemic scale, has announced an expansive lineup featuring 242 galleries from 40 countries. This represents a significant 37% increase compared with the previous year, including 69 galleries returning from a hiatus and 23 entirely new exhibitors. This surge in participation marks a robust return to form for the fair, heralding its "first truly reopened year" as described by Art Basel Hong Kong director Angelle Siyang-Le. The fair's opening vernissage is set for March 27, with public days from March 28 to 30.
The fair this year, successfully returning to its pre-pandemic scale, has announced an expansive lineup featuring 242 galleries from 40 countries. This represents a significant 37% increase compared with the previous year, including 69 galleries returning from a hiatus and 23 entirely new exhibitors. This surge in participation marks a robust return to form for the fair, heralding its "first truly reopened year" as described by Art Basel Hong Kong director Angelle Siyang-Le. The fair's opening vernissage is set for March 27, with public days from March 28 to 30.
2024:::::::: the 11th edition of Art Basel HongKong
Date
March 26-30, 2024
Location
Convention & Exhibition Centre,
1 Harbour Road, Wan Chai
1 Harbour Road, Wan Chai
Entrance Fee
225-3680
HK Dollor
HK Dollor
Meduim
painting/mix media/
Installation/Sculpture /photography/
Digital Art/...
Installation/Sculpture /photography/
Digital Art/...
Art Period
Comtemporary
Modern
Impressionism
...
Modern
Impressionism
...
Total Exhibtion Area
N/A
Exhibting Galleries
242
VIP Preview
Depend on
VIP Level
VIP Level
Founded In
2013
Contact
INFO
There were 243 galleries join this year’s Art Basel. The size of Art Basel Hong Kong saw a significant increase of 37% from the previous year. Despite this growth, there was a decrease in the number of visitors, with the fair drawing 75,000 people, a drop from 86,000 in 2023. This year's VIP days saw thinner crowds, offering a more relaxed browsing experience, though this did stir some unease among sellers. Traditionally, the fair’s business rhythm has been underpinned by pre-sales to familiar clients, a strategy that lessens the potential financial impact of transporting and handling unsold works.
This year's fair saw a shift in the demographic composition of its attendees, with a noticeable decrease in collectors and advisors from America and Europe, contrasted by an increased turnout from Australia. While there was a robust showing of Chinese collectors, dealers reported a more reserved buying pattern, likely a response to recent governmental restrictions on capital exports from China. In contrast, the fair welcomed a considerable contingent of Korean collectors, who were observed to be particularly vigorous in their acquisitions.
Booth Price: 1. Galleries sector ranges from USD 872 - 1,066 per square meter
2. Discoveries sector costs USD 12,500 per booth (flat rate)
3. Insights sector costs USD 36,9000 or USD 46,000 per booth (flat rate)
Exhibitor application: https://www.artbasel.com/about/application
List of galleries: https://www.artbasel.com/hong-kong/exhibitors?lang=en
Other comments: Top Sale from the First VIP day:
Gallerist are reporting that now is obviously no longer the time to "just put it on the wall and sell it." The overall situation is biased toward a buyer's market. The sales staff of some galleries are not as aloof as before, but instead enthusiastically introduce works to various audiences.
As the economic environment declines, collectors are more cautious about taking action. Overly aggressive speculation has almost disappeared. From crazy buying to steady buying, this has also forced galleries to bring more valuable and classic works - that is, the taste has become more conservative.
The proportion of classic masterworks in international blue-chip galleries has increased. Lévy Gorvy Gallery even brought Van Gogh, Chagall, and Fontana. Hauser ＆ Wirth brought De Kooning... Kusanagi Yayoi, Baselitz, Katz, etc. Many galleries have brought them, and the overall collection is a collection of top-notch products. Compared to other fairs in Asia, galleries are more inclined to bring higher-priced works to Art Basel, with many seven-figure (in USD) pieces being a rarity at other Asian art fairs.
Although these international blue-chip galleries will appear at fairs around the world, the quality of the works they bring varies. One of my obvious feelings is that the works presented by the same international gallery in Basel Hong Kong are more exciting at the Shanghai Art Fair.
Philip Guston’s The Desire (1978) sold for $8.5 million.
Mark Bradford’s May the Lord be the first one in the car...and the last out. (2023) sold for $3.5 million.
George Condo’s Escaping Figures (1998) sold for $850,000.
Pat Steir’s 9 x 7, D (2022) sold for $850,000.
Avery Singer’s Poppers (2024) sold for $800,000.
Rashid Johnson’s God Painting “Open Waters” (2023) sold for $750,000.
Maria Lassnig’s Heimliche Liebe / Heimlich Liebe / Couple im Gespräch (Secret Love / Secretly Love / Couple Talking) (1995) sold for €650,000 ($700,000).
Anj Smith’s If Winter comes (can Spring be far behind)? (2023) sold for $600,000.
Charles Gaines’s Numbers and Trees: Charleston Series 1, Tree #11, Fiddle Way (2023) sold for $595,000.
*Source: Artsy’s articel “What sold at Art Basel Hongkong 2024”
2023: 177 galleries in total
2024: 242 galleries in total
2023: 22 galleries debut at the fair
2024: 23 galleries debut at the fair
Section
Galleries
The main exhibition section, "Galleries," at the fair gather an impressive collection of top-tier works from 201 world-class galleries. Among the myriad of exhibits, textile arts and their notable diversity will be highlighted, and digital art will also command a significant presence.
Discoveries
The "Discoveries" section, focused on solo shows by emerging artists, will feature 22 galleries. Several of these exhibitions will concentrate on complex issues concerning urban development in modern society and the changing nature of public spaces.
Insights
The "Insights" sector will prominently feature artworks from Asian and Asia-Pacific artists, with 20 galleries contributing this year, centering on the theme of historical identity.
Floorplan
Transportation
Visitors can take the MTR to Wan Chai MTR station on the Blue Island Line. Then you can go to HKCEC along the footbridge from MTR station Exit A1.
By Star Ferry
Visitors can take the Star Ferry from Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry Pier (next to the Hong Kong Cultural Centre) across the Victoria Harbour to the HKCEC.
By Bus
The following buses can ride you directly to the HKCEC:
From Hung Hom Station：103, 104, 182, etc.
From the Airport：A11, A12 or E11
From Central/ Hong Kong Station：40, 40M, 70, etc.
Note: the hotel accomendation during the Art Basel fair period is realtively high in demand. The price of hotel room near the Convention & Exhibition Centre could be as high as 6000 HK dollor on average. (but in 2018-2019, the hotel average price was around 15,000.)