During the VIP Preview and public days, the GALLERIES sector attracted over 30,000 visits, with more than fifty percent of them travellers to Hong Kong, marking a strong debut. Many galleries reported that sales exceeded expectations, and the past four days brought engaging conversations with collectors and audiences from Hong Kong and beyond

Says ART021 Group co-founder David Chau, “We came to Hong Kong with an extraordinary vision. Our aim was to innovate the form of art fairs while balancing the art market and focusing on cultural initiatives, hoping to add to Hong Kong's already expansive artistic landscape. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our many visitors, our partners and exhibitors, and our venue hosts WestK, Phillips Asia headquarters and the Fringe Club. We deeply appreciate the support of the Mega ACE Fund.”

Betty Fung, chief executive officer of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, said, "ART021 HONG KONG attracted thousands of art collectors and enthusiasts to the West Kowloon Cultural District (WestK) during the four-day exhibition period, showcasing Hong Kong's flourishing art ecology. This helps promote the development of arts and culture in Hong Kong, thereby enhancing the status of both WestK and Hong Kong on the international stage. WestK has two world-class museums, as well as various performance and exhibition spaces. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with different partners and bringing more diverse and exciting experiences to WestK visitors.”

Attendees to the fair included prominent collectors, renowned artists, curators, art professions, key industry personalities, well-known collectors and entrepreneurs. Representatives from important local and international art institutions also attended the Fair, including Asia Art Archive, Beijing Taikang Art Museum, Design Society, He Art Museum, Hong Kong Palace Museum, Jameel Arts Centre, WestK, Para Site, Shanghai Rockbund Art Museum, Singapore Whale Art Museum, and Song Art Museum. Representatives from Art Intelligence Global (AIG), Bonhams, Christie’s, Phillips Auction House, Poly Auction Hong Kong, and Sotheby’s were also present during the VIP Preview.

Owners of prominent art galleries in the city were quick to share their praises for the event. Says Elsa Wang, founder of Bluerider ART, “ART021 HONG KONG marks Bluerider ART’S return to Hong Kong for the first time in five years. In recent years, there have been many changes among collectors in Hong Kong, and ART021 HONG KONG presents an opportunity to reconnect and understand the local collectors as well as those from the Greater Bay Area. We achieved considerable sales, with the works of artist Cao Jigang receiving particular attention."

Catherine Kwai, founder and director of Kwai Fung Hin Art Gallery says, “Thanks to their ten plus years of professional experience in Shanghai and Beijing, ART021 HONG KONG succeeded in attracting collectors from all over mainland China who travelled to Hong Kong for the fair. We sold some pieces during the fair.” 

David Lin, director of LIN&LIN Gallery, says, “Sales have been excellent. Half of our works were sold within the first hour on the opening day, and 70% were sold by Friday noon. We've met many new clients, both locals and visitors from mainland China. Despite ART021 HONG KONG having chosen to take place in August, a non-traditional art season, this new attempt has proved to be a great success for the fair in the results of these few days.” Continues  Lorenz Helbing at ShanghArt Gallery, “We brought twenty artworks to Hong Kong for the Fair, and the sales performance was impressive. A significant photograph created in Hong Kong by Yang Fudong sold on the first day!”

The works from HUMARISH CLUB & Hwa’s Gallery were completely sold out on the VIP Preview Day. Director Hua Yuzhou shares, "We sold more than ten pieces on the first day, including a large piece by the famous artist Zhou Chunya, which was also sold at $2million HKD- the most expensive piece at our booth. We put on many new pieces to refresh the booth. Several pieces priced at HKD 500,000 have already been pre-sold." 

Ren Space Hong Kong participates in the GALLERIES section while also presenting a solo project by Li Binyuan at the Fringe Club. They share, “We engaged in discussions with many collectors and art enthusiasts, showcasing our gallery's exciting projects and receiving many inquiries. Additionally, we launched an art forum featuring an in depth discussion between Long Yun, the assistant curator from M+ and artist Li Bin-yuan. It was a highly professional platform for which we are very grateful.” 

Forums were held at Freespace in WestK, which were open to the public free of charge. Ten thought- provoking talks gathered together scholars, artists, and professionals from various fields, exploring trending topics in contemporary art from both the academic and practical perspectives. An interesting talk took place between ART021 Group co-founder David Chau and curator of Jameel Arts Centre Lucas Morin, who discussed their respective practices and visions around the concept of Global South.

ART021 HONG KONG embodied both professionalism and public engagement. The VIDEOS section at the Asia Society Hong Kong Center featured cutting-edge moving image works. Meanwhile, the EXPANSION programme integrated urban culture and academic initiatives, fostering connections within the local art community and enriching the presentation of contemporary art. The SCULPTURE programme, which continues through September 8th, brings exceptional public art to Victoria Park, the largest park on Hong Kong Island, and the rooftop of the Fringe Club, attracting a diverse array of residents and visitors.

Says Willem Molesworth, cofounder of PHD GROUP, “It's a lot of fun participating and being back at the Fringe Club. We did a project with them earlier this year and I'm happy to be back in the Dairy in their old jazz bar doing an immersive exhibition for local artist duo Zheng Mahler. Their installations use digital media to examine the broader interactions between nature and technology, which attracted many visitors, including art writers and curators.”

Curated by renowned artist and curator Zheng Shengtian, "Art Dialogues between China, Mexico and the Global South (1952–1972)” at EXPANSION was highly praised. The exhibition featured over seventy invaluable archival documents, accompanied by two recorded interviews that showcased the project's inception and progress, offering an in-depth exploration of the cross-cultural influences between Mexican and Chinese art.

The VIDEOS section held a four-day screening at the Asia Society Hong Kong Center, inviting audiences into the world of video art through the lens of 13 artists and filmmakers. The screenings included works by renowned artists such as Chen Chieh-jen, Yang Fudong, Kim Soo-ja, Qiu Anxiong, and Wim Wenders. It also built up a platform for emerging artists like Zheng Yuan, Yang Di, and Chen Qiulin to meet with art enthusiasts and institutions.

Meanwhile, at The Sun Life Pavilion, the GALLERIES section welcomed many clients and visitors. This vibrant exhibition showcased captivating works by several Hong Kong artists, paying tribute to the city and creatively interpreting its past, present, and future. 

ART021 HONG KONG SCULPTURE and GBA ART WEEK continue until September 8th. At Victoria Park and the Fringe Club, visitors can enjoy works by Robert Indiana, Camille Henrot, Li Zhen, Lu Pingyuan, Shang Liang and Gwon Osang, all free to the public. 

GBA ART WEEK features 42 participating galleries, including 30 Hong Kong galleries and 12 from across the region. These exhibitions and programmes kick off the art calendar for the second half of the year, and further demonstrate ART021 HONG KONG's ongoing investment and commitment to Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.