Hong Kong Art Week
Art Basel might have put Hong Kong on the visual arts map, but Art Central upstages the prestigious event, stealing the limelight during Hong Kong Art Week. And talk about a great venue!
Entrance to Art Central on the waterfront on Hong Kong Island. Photo Credit: Accidental Travel Writer.
Art Central opened on 22 March 2016 with a VIP reception by invitation. It was open to the public from 23 to 26 March. The art fair was held in a temporary exhibition hall on the waterfront on Hong Kong Island.
Art Central was staged in a temporary white canvas structure built on reclaimed land along the waterfront in Central on Hong Kong Island. It had the trappings of a large modern art gallery.
The art fair ran concurrently with Art Basel Hong Kong, and the consensus was that it upstaged the prestigious event.
It was quite hike from the Central MTR station to Art Central, taking me along a lengthy elevated walkway, the Star Ferry Terminal and a Ferris Wheel, and along a stretch of waterfront overlooking Victoria Harbour,
Click here for pictures of the walk from the Central MTR station to Art Central>>
What the art fair lacked in accessibility, however, it made up for in both presentation and content
There seems to be a consensus that the white canvas walls, white canvas cathedral ceiling, and excellent lighting put the focus on the works of art on display.
There were paintings, sculptures, and other pieces of art from art galleries in 21 countries, with 75% of them in 23 cities across Asia. Fully 30 of the galleries had never displayed works of art in Hong Kong before.
Many of the works were of museum quality. Others were created by emerging young artists. Works were displayed in three sectors:
Central presented established and emerging galleries from Asia and beyond, exhibiting a diverse range of artists and curatorial themes;
Rise presented galleries and art spaces launched over the last six years. Galleries in this sector presented tightly curated solo and dual artist presentations by artists early in their career;
Projects presented ambitious, large-scale installations and spatial interventions that were expected to challenge the confines of a traditional art fair booth.
I can't help but think that the venue at which Art Central was held should be made permanent.
A Quick Look at the Exhibition
Look over my shoulder as I explore Art Central …
Photo Credit: Accidental Travel Writer and Helen Wong.
Before bidding adieu to the artwork on display at Art Central and boarding a shuttle bus to the Savannah College of Art and Design SCAD) on the other side of Victoria Harbour, we headed over to the pop-up food court that had been set up in another tent.
Would the food be as good as the art?
Click here for a Hong Kong Hotel Restaurant Serving and Art Inspired Set Menu>>
Food + Beverage
Michael Taylor (centre) enjoys two tacos (bottom) from the Brickhouse booth at Street Food @ Art Central in Hong Kong (top). Photo Credit: Accidental Travel Writer and Helen Wong.
Food and beverage outlets included two bars, a pop-up-restaurant, and several booths serving street food in the Street Food @ Art Central tent.
I had two yummy tacos and a killer Margarita at the Brickhouse outlet, a Mexican eatery in the SoHo district of Hong Kong, which I haven’t had a chance to try yet.
Based on those tacos and Margarita, however, Brickhouse is definitely on my bucket list!!!
Following our visit to Art Central, my companion, Helen Wong, and I took the shuttle to the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) campus in Sham Shui Po in Kowloon, where wine, yummy snacks, and a tour of the campus awaited.
Click here for photos taken at the SCAP Cocktail Party and Campus Tour>>
Art Central was one of the key events held during Hong Kong Art Week. Click on the following links for more information on Art Basel Hong Kong and other events taking place in Hong Kong during Hong Kong Arts Month.
Where
Art Central, Central Harbourfront Event Space, 9 Lung Wo Road, Central, Hong Kong.
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Talking Points
Did you attend Art Central? What did you think of it? If you also attended Art Basel and Asia Contemporary, which art fair did you like best and why?
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