Art Basel Kicks Off A Month Dedicated To The Arts In Hong Kong

LOS ANGELES, May 15, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Art Basel Hong Kong, one of the world's most prestigious international art fairs, will return for its second installment in Hong Kong from May 15 to 18, showcasing 245 of the world's most influential art galleries spanning from 39 countries and territories across Asia, Europe, North and South America. Described as the "Olympics of the Art World", this year's second annual Art Basel Hong Kong will welcome global art aficionados to immerse in the best of Asian and Western art. The second annual show will be presented in four separate show sectors: Galleries, Insights, Discoveries and Encounters.  New to Art Basel Hong Kong this year will be a film section promoting Hong Kong's rich heritage of film and video arts.

The inaugural Art Basel Hong Kong, which took place in 2013, prominently placed Asia's World City on the international art map. More than 60,000 patrons, including private collectors and directors of leading international museums, attended last year's fair, which showcased more than 3,000 artists – half of which were from the Asia-Pacific region alone. To differentiate itself from the other Art Basel shows, the Hong Kong show maintains a 50-50 ratio of galleries from Asia and from the rest of the world.

"Due to the success of the inaugural Art Basel Hong Kong in 2013, Hong Kong has already positioned itself as Asia's art capital," said Bill Flora, U.S. Director of Hong Kong Tourism Board.  "With an incredible array of world-class museums, galleries and performance venues, Hong Kong is one of the world's premiere art destinations."

Capitalizing on Art Basel Hong Kong, and the menagerie of arts and cultural events happening in May, the Hong Kong Tourism Board has designated the month "Arts Month", beckoning global art lovers to visit Asia's World City to experience Hong Kong's vast and contemporary arts scene.

The following are some notable art events happening during "Arts Month" in Hong Kong:

• Coinciding with Art Basel and the arrival of art world leaders, the Hong Kong Museum of Art is showcasing the "Living World" series by renowned Taiwanese sculptor Ju Ming until June 15;
• M+, the visual culture museum, which will open in the West Kowloon Cultural District in 2017, will present its architectural concept by award-winning Swiss firm Herzog & de Meuron and the latest museum developments at Art Basel;
• Asia Society Hong Kong will host renowned mainland Chinese contemporary artist Xu Bing's first Hong Kong solo show.
• Other non-profit venues, including the Hong Kong Arts Centre, City University's School of Creative Media, creative spaces in Chai Wan, Para/Site art space and Asia Art Archive, will also have exhibitions and events throughout the month.
• The Hong Kong Art Gallery Association will host an art night on May 13 with late night openings of member galleries around the city.
• Galleries located in the southern district of Hong Kong Island will also stage an art night on May 15, with extended opening hours to welcome visitors at the weekend.
• London-based auction house Bonhams will host its spring sale from May 17, and Christie's, from May 24 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Those who aren't planning to purchase art can still visit exhibitions staged by the auction houses, with Asian contemporary art, Chinese fine art and antiques on display before the auctions kick off.
• The annual Le French May festival will offer a range of art and gourmet experiences in May. A number of works, including classical music performances and art exhibitions, are the collaborative effort of local and overseas artists.

To learn more about Hong Kong's expansive art culture, please visit the Hong Kong Tourism Board website at www.DiscoverHongKong.com/usa and follow HKTB on Twitter at @HongKongTourism, for more news and trends on Asia's World City.

SOURCE Hong Kong Tourism Board