Vegas Magazine - Niche Media - There is a place beyond the crowds, beyond the ropes, where dreams are realized and success is celebrated. You are invited.
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The late Chinese artist Chen Zhen's large-scale Le Rite Suspendue/Mouille (1991) was installed at last year's Art Basel Hong Kong. These types of collaborations with local institu- tions help Art Basel recognize, support, and promote the exploding contemporary art scene in Hong Kong. Not only is the government pouring billions of dollars into developing a cultural district in West Kowloon, but the new M+, an ambitious Herzog & de Meuron – designed world-class museum, slated for completion in 2017, further illustrates Hong Kong's commitment to its future support of the visual arts. But maybe the most sig- nificant indicator is the number of respected western galleries, like Gagosian, White Cube, and Lehmann Maupin, that have opened Hong Kong outposts over the last few years. These dealers along with inf luential homegrown stalwarts such as 10 Chancery Lane, Galerie Ora- Ora, and Pearl Lam, are instrumental in developing and nurturing the careers of artists and collections in the region. According to Renfrew, these relationships with the local galleries and institutions (including Asia Art Archive, Para/Site, the Asia Society, and Spring Workshop) are imperative to A B in HK as they cre- ate a show "grounded in the city." "We want to promote long-term arts infrastructure development and encourage associated programming across the city," says Renfrew. "The growth of Hong Kong's museum sector and contemporary arts edu- cation will truly impact the larger discourse in the city, and that is something that we aim—through long-term partnerships—to cultivate." The fair's impact and thematic reach is sure to be much broader than just the Asian region. One needs to look no further than the talks planned as part of the Conversations and Salon programs. A discussion titled the "Global Art World/ Making Biennials" will feature luminaries Juliana Engberg, artistic director of the 2014 Biennale of Sydney and artistic direc- tor of the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art; Eungie Joo, curator of the 2015 Sharjah Biennial; and Jessica Morgan, artistic director of the 10th Gwangju Biennale and The Daskalopoulos Curator, International Art at Tate Modern, London, moderated by Hou Hanru, artistic director at Maxxi Museum in Rome. "This is a conversation that has real interna- tional relevancy, ref lecting the transitional reality of today's art world," explains Renfrew. Programming such as this, coupled with a rapidly maturing Asian art market and the resurgence of Chinese art exhibitions across the US, will undoubtedly help draw record numbers of highly informed collectors to the fair this month. With so much anticipation building around the fair, what does Renfrew most look forward to? "The highlight is exposing new audiences to the depth of work from the broader Asian region, and being part of that experi- ence of discovery when collectors come to know artists they have not yet seen… or when curators have an opportunity to join in dialogue with artists whose work they have long followed." artbasel.com/en.hong-kong V JERRY SCHEFCIK, UNLV DIRECTOR OF GALLERIES "The joy of art is when it can draw from the roots that gave it life and continue to give it life however it is interpreted. An exciting aspect of current Asian art is when it draws upon those elements that made it truly unique and identifiable as from that culture. If Asian artists continue to ref lect in some regard on their heritage, I think there can be a distinct contemporary Asian aesthetic." PATRICK DUFFY, AVID COLLECTOR AND FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE LAS VEGAS ART MUSEUM "Art Basel has reached perfect centers to create great global saturation points and share ideologies through visual art. The art markets are better appreciated internationally when you have power art centers that give collectors an efficient means to travel globally. Artists are better positioned to meet collectors and create impressions that last and can be bankable." MICHELE QUINN, FOUNDER AND PRINCIPAL OF MCQ FINE ART ADVISORY "Hong Kong and Asia, with all of the money there, is a no-brainer. It is interesting to see the gallery openings because now contemporary Asian art is such a solid segment of our marketplace. Ten years ago there were still a lot of questions like "Where is this going?" "Is this the next direction?" I think these questions have been answered when you see the galleries that have established themselves [in Asia] like Lehmann Maupin, White Cube, James Cohan, and so many other high-level, blue-chip galleries that have planted their feet firmly on the ground there." PACIFIC OVERTURES The Vegas art crowd sizes up the market. PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF ART BASEL VEGASMAGAZINE.COM 83 082-083_V_SC_Artful_MAYJUNE_14.indd 83 4/21/14 1:35 PM