In awe of Japanese artist Shinji Ohmaki’s Liminal Air SpaceTime (2018), presented by Mind Set Art Center. This installation takes a once solid object and dissolves it into a kinetic sculpture, creating an illusion of air as form.
The success of Art Basel Hong Kong (now on its sixth edition) has led a host of other art occupying the city. Art Central is timed to coincide with Art Basel, but aims for a more Asian focus. The twice-yearly Asia Contemporary Art Fair is a far more intimate affair, set over four floors of the Conrad Hotel. Auctions at Sotheby’s and Christie’s have set global records, trading everything from rare diamonds, to Basquiat and Fernando Zobels too.
This year, Art Basel reported that the show brought together a global mix of galleries spanning six continents, and outstanding artworks by established and new artists from across the world. It has become a singular gathering of international collectors and institutions, many of whom are first-time visitors of the show.
Blurring the boundaries between public and private spaces, Chou Yu-Cheng explores the concept of hygiene, technology and the distribution of labor through sculpture, performance and recital in his installation titled: Refresh, Sacrifice, New Hygiene, Infection, Clean, Robot, Air, Housekeeping, www.agentbong.com, Cigarette, Dyson, Modern People. (2017)
“Art Basel drives the cultural agenda and art scene in Asia with its annual show in Hong, and attracts many collectors, influential curators and art lovers from across the globe,” said Pearl Lam, founder and owner of Pearl Lam Galleries in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Singapore. I couldn’t agree more.
Four leading galleries from Manila presented strong shows at the Art Basel this year, giving Filipino artists significant attention at the fair: 1335 Mabini, Artinformal, The Drawing Room, and Silverlens.
Utopian Cargo oil on canvas, 2017 by Manuel Ocampo. This work has been exhibited at the Pavilion of the Philippines at the 57th Venice Biennale last year.
I also spotted international galleries who were highlighting Filipino artists in their shows. Two of Manuel Ocampo’s artworks exhibited at the Philippine Pavilion at the 57th Venice Biennale, were highlighted at the show of Paris and Brussels-based Galerie Nathalie Obadia.
Artwork by Filipino artists Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan, presented by STPI
Singapore-based STPI-Creative Workshop and Gallery, which specializes in artistic experimentation in the medium of print and paper, exclusively presented the works of Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan.
At the opening night of Altered Ego by Alfredo Esquillo, presented by J Studio at the Art Central. Left to right, artist Alfredo Esquillo, Melo Esguerra, Valentien Willie, and Jia and Gabbie Estella.
At the Art Central, it was a sold-out show on its opening day for J Studio, who presented a solo show of Filipino artist Alfredo Esquillo entitled Altered Ego.
Market by Fernando Amorsolo, oil on canvas, mounted on board, 1948. On sale at Sotheby’s.
Sotheby’s highlighted Southeast Asian Art at their First Look: Hong Kong Spring Sales. Rare artworks in color by Fernando Zobel were on sale, together with the works of Fernando Amorsolo, Jose Joya, Geraldine Javier, Pacita Abad, Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera, Ronald Ventura, among others.
With FIlipino artists and galleries’ strong showing at the Hong Kong art fairs this year, I am so optimistic that we will be raising our game next year. Exciting times ahead for the Philippine artists, curators, galleries and art scene as a whole.
More photos from the exciting show below!
Melo Esguerra in front of Ulla von Brandenburg’s 7 Curtains, presented by Pilar Corrias and Meyer Riegger. This installation explores how stories and rituals of the past constitute present societies. Viewers are invited to participate in her temporary ‘soft’ architecture, by walking through large painted bamboo curtains that materialize their movements.
A rare artwork in color by Fernando Zobel on sale at Sotheby’s
Shapes and Squares (1970) by Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera
Artwork by Filipino artists Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan
Remembrance (2018) by Gregory Halili, presented by Silverlens Gallery
So happy to bump into actor and art collector John Lloyd Cruz at Art Basel HK. I can’t wait to see his growing collection.
A powerful artwork made of gun powder and ink by Cai Guo-Qiang entitled Project to Extend The Great Wall of China by 10,000 Meters: Project for Extraterrestrials No. 10 (in five pieces, on sale at Sotheby’s)
Crying by Geraldine Javier, oil and embroidery on canvas in four parts, executed in 2011
Flower Garden by Marina Cruz, oil on canvas 2016. On sale at Sotheby’s.
“Unforgettable” is not just a favorite word. It’s a life philosophy for me. It’s a guiding light, that I live to make every experience and encounter I have with people and places, unforgettable. I will be writing about my remarkable adventures, focused on style, art and travel.
The Left Wing installation was one of the highly anticipated pieces at Art Basel this year, with kinetic sculptures that were metaphors for socio-political realities for agrarian societies in Asia.
I am in Hong Kong at the moment, immersing myself in the Hong Kong Art Week, one of the most exciting times to be in the city. Art Basel Hong Kong returns for its sixth edition this week. Featuring 248 leading galleries from 32 countries, the fair showcases a wide range of masterpieces. There are early 20th century work, alongside contemporary work by both established and emerging artists–Andy Warhol, George Condo, Jeff Koons, Frog King. There are also Filipino artists Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan, Manuel Ocampo, and many more.
Art Basel HK opened its doors to collectors, movers and shakers in the art world. It is an essential event on the art calendar, offering a glimpse at the best artwork from the Asia-Pacific region and the world’s top galleries.
Merely an hour and a half into Art Basel Hong Kong’s private view on Tuesday–a by-invitation-only event attended mostly by collectors–Willian de Kooning’s Untitled XII was sold for USD 35 million to Brett Gorvy of Lévy Gorvy Gallery, from the renowned collection of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. It is the most expensive work known to have been sold at the Hong Kong fair.
Alfredo and Isabel Aquizilan created the Left Wing Project, an installation in collaboration with farmers and blacksmiths from Indonesia.
The entire space was overwhelming, so I decided not to overdose on all the artwork on exhibition. But the one thing I most anticipated was the Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan’s installation, entitled the Left Wing Project. It was an installation made of sickles, weighing scales, sacks of rice, rope, motors and sounds. This immense, site-specific installation features seven wing-like kinetic sculptures, made from hand-forged sickles hung from the ceiling. They are counter-balanced by sacks of rice suspended from weighing scales. The wings are synchronized alongside a symphony of sounds recorded from Javanese sickle factories. Left Wing Project (Belok Kiri Jalan Terus) is part of an ongoing body of work created in collaboration with farmers and blacksmiths from Yogyakarta, Indonesia. It continues the artists’ research into the complex social and political realities facing contemporary agrarian societies in Asia.
“It was most challenging for us to install our work in the given space, but we did it and we are very happy with the results,” Isabel Aquilizan shared at the Conversations discussion.
The Left Wing installation is massive and hypnotic, and one of the most important artwork on exhibition at the Art Basel this year! It’s truly unforgettable! To the Aquilizans, art and life are always together–and I couldn’t agree more.
Stay tuned for my other unforgettable updates here from Hong Kong Art Week.
]]>