Art Basel’s Encounters Sector
Photo Courtesy of MCH Swiss Exhibition Basel Ltd
Returning to Hong Kong for its fourth year, Art Basel (March 24 to 26) will showcase a spectacular lineup of internationally acclaimed galleries, organized in four main sectors: Galleries, Encounters, Insights and Discoveries. From film debuts and large-scale exhibitions to special hotel collaborations, there’s a wealth to see and do this year.
Halley Cheng’s “The Carnivorous Island,” Photo Courtesy of MCH Swiss Exhibition Basel Ltd
Admire Asian art
Of the 239 galleries presenting, nearly 30 hail from Asia. Over the past few years, Hong Kong’s art scene, in particular, has been flourishing. Some of the city’s best galleries will be showcased over the weekend; expect a mix of up-and-coming artists as well as established names. Among the most prominent exhibitors, look for insightful visual art collections and contemporary photography from Blindspot Gallery, contemporary ink work from Galerie Ora-Ora and contemporary Asian art from 10 Chancery Lane Gallery.
Interact with art
Be prepared to walk under, over and around pieces of 3-D art at this year’s event. Enjoy massive installations and captivating performances, all part of the Encounters sector, peppered throughout the fair’s exhibition halls. And look for larger-than-life works, such as Chen Zhen’s Opening of a Closed Center, a piece that makes use of natural materials inspired by the artist’s experience with the Shaker community.
See the light show
Art Basel has also partnered with the iconic 1,607-foot-tall ICC tower to display the Time Waterfall light installation by Tatsuo Miyajima from March 21 to 26. The spectacle intends to capture the ethos of living in the present by using a mixture of cascading numbers, counting down to zero but never hitting it, as an abstract message on life and death.
Mandarin Oriental’s Pierre, Photo Courtesy of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
Catch a film
Curated by multimedia artist Li Zhenhua, who also worked on Art Basel Hong Kong’s inaugural 2014 film selections, the 2016 lineup will present a variety of short films and experimental visual arts projected inside a custom-built 600-seat cinema. The exploration of new media will include 60 works of video art, ranging from directed films with linear plots, documentaries and boundary-blurring pieces that comment on technology and modern lifestyle. There will be five features debuting as well, including a special screening of Zeng Fanzhi: YOU Art Project, which investigates the life and practice of the esteemed Chinese artist.
Stay at Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong
The official hotel partner of Art Basel, Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong should be your base if you’re in town for the art excitement. Available from March 19 to 29, the Art Stay package consists of artistic and culinary experiences: two tickets to Art Basel, passes to the Collectors lounge, a welcome bottle of “R” de Ruinart Champagne, breakfast and an art-inspired welcome treat. You can also opt to indulge in a dinner at the hotel’s Five-Star French restaurant Pierre, Five-Star Mandarin Grill + Bar (art-tinged menu) or the divine Mandarin Cake Shop (themed chocolates).
