OPUS | Travels: June 2011

Dear Friends and Art Lovers,

It is no surprise that the management of Art Basel was interested in adding Hong Kong to its Swiss-Miami crown. It also makes perfect sense to add the center of the Asian art market as HK has no import-export restrictions nor sales tax. The fair, showcasing some 260 galleries, is anchored by the big players from New York and London with many galleries from Beijing in attendance. The question now that Frieze is extending its reach to New York in May, and the Armory expanding to Los Angeles in September, is whether these fairs are now redundant cookie cutter incarnations and whether their days are numbered. It seems to me that the satellite fairs are becoming increasingly important as gateways to the new and undiscovered for emerging art collectors.

At Art HK 2011, the separate sections upstairs on the third floor called Asia One and Art Futures have a sense of new energy and creative spirit, but alas the art is reductive and not terribly exciting. One exception is at Chambers Fine Art, who has space in both NY and Beijing. Their exquisite full-room installation of 18,000 laser-cut, multi-colored Griffins recreates an ancient Chinese mountain landscape and is a visual wonder. The artist, WU Jian'an uses these laser motifs throughout most of his work. (images below)

(http://chambersfineart.com/artists/Wu_Jian%27an/WJA_Mountain_Installation.shtml)

One of two other discoveries is LIU Jianhua at Beijing Commune (which I learned through the gossip mill, is a feeder gallery to Pace Beijing) who showed exquisitely fired Celadon pots glazed in their interiors with a glossy blood red glass, appearing as if they were filled with either blood or wine. (image below)

(http://www.beijingcommune.com/EnArtistsXQ.aspx?ID=30)

The last, but not least, was a discovery at the "Art East Island" satellite fair organized by 10 Chancery Lane's Director Katie de Tilley, named one of HK's most influential art people, of the work of KO Siu Lan. She is a multi media artist, and a la Jenny Holzer, printed aluminum wall signs asking politically incorrect questions (images below). Those of you in Paris might remember the scandal involving her neon sign "No Thinking" which was explainedly removed until Frederic Mitterrand's office of Cultural Affairs under Sarkozy had it restored though direct intervention.
http://www.france24.com/en/20100213-culture-minister-art-installation-censored-mitterrand-sarkozy-slogan-work-more#

The "Art East Island" is an outpost in the industrial section called Chai Wan, (not to be confused with Wan Chai where the fair takes place). The theme of this joint exhibition is "disappearance and artistic freedom". It was the only place where there was a serious passing reference to the detention of Ai Wei Wei, other than Urs Meile's booth who gave away buttons asking "where is Ai Wei Wei".

Sue Stoffel

OPUS contributor

TRAVEL WITH OPUS TO HK 2012:

The dates for Art HK 2012 have been moved from the previously announced February dates to May 17-20, 2012, to avoid a conflict with the Chinese new year.

OPUS is taking a group to Art HK 2012, May 15-19 (four full days of program).

Estimated price: $ 4,500.00 per person (based on double occupancy) or $ 5,500.00 (for single occupancy). All expenses included except international airfare. Maximum 8 guests.

Pre-reservation at: book@opustravels.com