Your guide to the highlights of Art Basel Hong Kong 2024

There’s a section named Encounters that is dedicated to large-scale projects, themed ‘I am a part of all that I have met’ this year. Of the 16 artworks, 11 have been made especially for Art Basel, the largest number of projects since Encounters began in 2013.

Look out for anthropomorphic ratan sculptures by South Korean artist Haegue Yang; intricate, large-scale drawings with fire, wind, smoke, and ink by Indian artist Jitish Kallat; table tennis archival footage projected onto semi-spheres by Singaporean sculptor Ming Wong; and Naminapu Maymuru-White’s installation of vessels that reference the funerary rites and traditions of the Yolŋu Aboriginal people in northern Australia.

The majority of the fair will take place at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, but that doesn’t mean that the art will be confined to one venue. For instance, Sydney-based Aboriginal artist Daniel Boyd will be showcasing his work with dots in Pacific Place. Additionally, a black-and-white film on Hong Kong architecture shot by Yang Fudong will be screened on the façade of M+. Keep your eyes peeled for more artistic surprises during this month!

As part of the Kabinett sector of the fair – where galleries feature thematic and curated solo presentations by contemporary artists in a dedicated section of their booths – there will be a record number of 33 galleries participating in this year’s Art Basel. They will all have a strong focus on solo projects from the APAC region, as is expected of the majority of Hong Kong’s art month events.

Noteworthy displays include Johyun Gallery’s series of paintings by the late South Korean master Park Seo-bo; A Thousand Plateaus Art Space presenting Bi Rongrong’s installation on patterns from different cities and cultures; Yavuz Gallery with new explorations of organic structures by leading Thai artist Pinaree Sanpitak; Jessica Silverman with Loie Hollowell’s paintings that explore sexuality, reproduction, and spirituality; Annely Juda Fine Art’s works by Russian artist Kasimir Malevich from the 1910s and 20s; and many more.

Of course there will be local artistic representation as well. Mak2 has created a large installation named Copy of Copy of Copy of Copy, which consists of two interconnected fair booths. This exploration of duplication and simulation is particularly salient in this age of generative AI.

Hong Kong-born, London-based artist Cary Kwok will also exhibit acrylic and ink paintings that address the themes of queer interaction, domesticity, and art history. These are just some highlighted local artists, so do look out for more Hong Kong talents in person.

If you like moving images, Art Basel is showcasing a film programme, which includes 10 screenings and collaborations with Nowness Asia and Videotage. See a prominent clown look back on his life against the tumult of 20th-century China in A New Old Play; a single-channel animation called Sorry for the Late Reply about Hongkongers’ aspirations and anxieties by local artist Wong Ping; and other inspiring films. Running from March 27 to 30, Art Basel’s film programme will be free for the public to access, so this is a great way to join in the festivities even if you can’t get the full fair tickets.

Art Basel will also host a series of 11 panels and dialogues with key members of the global arts and culture community. Speakers include Japanese artistic legends Shinro Ohtake and Takashi Murakami, Tai Kwun’s head of art Pi Li, the M+ museum director Suhanya Raffel, the director of the National Gallery Singapore Eugene Tan, artist and meme creator Cem A, and more. This is a great opportunity to hear from industry movers and shakers on building era-defining art collections, decolonising cultural institutions, as well as debating whether artists or artworks are more important.