An incubator of the next generation of Contemporary Art in Asia, Art Central collaborates with distinguished local courator to spotlight up-and-coming artists and cutting-edge projects.

Text by Art Central Hong Kong
Images courtesy of the Artists and the Galleries
March 8, 2023

Art Central, presented with Lead Partner UOB, is delighted to announce the Fair’s immersive installation art projects alongside an extensive programme of public talks, and video art presented in collaboration with Asia Society Hong Kong Center. As a cornerstone event of Hong Kong Art Week, the Fair’s eighth edition will be held from Wednesday 22 March to Saturday, 25 March 2023 (Preview Tuesday, 21 March) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, showcasing the next generation of talent from Asia’s most ambitious galleries and artists.

Art Central previously announced its gallery line-up and highlights across three gallery sectors – Central Galleries, Curated Booths, and Solo Presentations, featuring 72 influential galleries from Hong Kong, Asia and beyond.

Differentiated as the incubator of the next generation of contemporary art in Asia, Art Central works with a distinguished Hong Kong-based curator in each edition to identify up-and-coming artists and cutting-edge projects from the region. For its 2023 edition, Art Central has invited independent curator, writer and publisher Chris Wan to curate the popular Yi Tai Sculpture and Installation Projects, the Fair’s sector for ambitious, large-scale installations and spatial interventions.

2023 Yi Tai Sculpture and Installation Projects

This year, Art Central presents four large-scale projects, under the direction of Chris Wan, the Fair’s 2023 Curatorial Advisor. Unified by the non-traditional, transitory and sensory experiences they inspire, the selected projects examine the fluid and elusive nature of art while hinting at a subverted reality that collapses the rigid structures of history, materiality and emotions. Through the intense visual richness and pleasure of “art spectacle”, audiences are invited to question how the social values that have been subliminally pushed to the surface via mass media may displace our understanding of present-day reality.

BAHK Seon-ghi is renowned for his suspended installations that create three dimensional illusions in space. Specially made for Art Central, the large installation, An Aggregation-Space 2023, doubles as a maze that welcomes the audience to walk through it. Its black charcoal parts float precisely in space to form geometric perspectives at unexpected angles, suggesting an examination of human rationality. Presented by 021gallery, Daegu.

BAHK. Courtesy of the artist and 021gallery; BAHK, An-aggregation-Space 20170305, Charcoal, nylon threads, 235 x 900 x 400 cm. Courtesy of the artistand 021gallery

Clara Wong uses comedic visual language and dark humour to discuss frustrations with daily life. Merging vibrant painting techniques and ready-made objects to form a domestic theatre, her installation, Prelude in A minor Trauma, constructs a cramped fictional living space with a leaky water pipe and a computer that inevitably gets wet – a metaphor for the oppressive reality of life in Hong Kong which allows for the exploration of personal traumas and their consequences. Presented by Square Street Gallery, Hong Kong.

lara Wong. Courtesy of the artist and Square Street Gallery. Photography by Tze Long; Clara Wong,Grab that Pee-pee feat. Dorothy Ho, 2022, ready-made objects, dimensions variable. Courtesy of the artist and Square Street Gallery.

In When Memories Metamorphose into What You Imagined, Huo Yun challenges the perception and imagination of paper as a traditional material. The artist's time spent in Italy inspired him to search for a shared, material-based artistic expression in Eastern and Western art. Huo’s sculptural forms evoke a deep sense of history and tradition, as if perceived from a viewer’s long-lost memories. Presented by a|n Gallery, Hong Kong.

HuoYun. Courtesy of the artist and a|n Gallery; HuoYun,Farfalla, Installation, mixed media, 280 x 55 x 75 cm, Private Collection. Courtesy of the artist anda|n Gallery.

In her reflective connections, the Johannesburg-based artist Bev Butkow constructs a dancing installation of locally-sourced materials that reflects on macroeconomic concepts of capital, information and labour. Comprised of four large, fabric-net forms of various suspended shapes, the hand-woven construction suggests a certain rhythm of use, like a set of giant fishing nets just pulled up from the sea. Audiences are drawn to the interplay of Butkow’s abstract soft sculptures, reflective materials and use of light, which invites viewers to explore their myriad details. Presented by Guns & Rain, Johannesburg.

Bev Butkow. Courtesy of the artist and Guns & Rain; Bev Butkow, reflective connections (iteration 1), 2023, site-specific installation, University of Johannesburg, South Africa. Image courtesy Bev Butkow, Guns & Rain.

Gok Dou LIVE by Asia Society Hong Kong Center

Art Central 2023 continues its strong relationship with longstanding Education, Partner Asia Society Hong Kong Center to present a programme of talks and video art, gathering the art-loving community in Hong Kong and beyond.

Talks and Panel Discussions

A critically acclaimed programme of talks led by prominent voices in contemporary art today. The lineup features artists, curators, collectors, writers, publishers, critics and more. Highlights include:

• Collecting Against the Grain | Tuesday 21 March 2023, 4pm

  The art world feeds off social topics, shock value, and trends. We invite art collectors to discuss their journeys in art collecting, and whether their approach to art collecting has shifted.

  Speakers: Collectors Sharon Cheng, Vernon Ho, Bonnie Lau

  Moderator: Luyang Jiang, Chief Strategy Officer, The Baer Faxt

• Making Your Name: The Trajectory of Contemporary Artists | Thursday 23 March 2023, 2pm

  In this talk moderated by one of Hong Kong’s leading academic voices, three contemporary artists share their creative journeys and artistic practices, and what it takes to establish oneself in the art community and beyond.

  Speakers: Lindy Lee (artist), Ticko Liu (artist), Glary Wu (artist)

  Moderator: Prof. Janet Fong, Research Professor, Academy of Visual Arts, Hong Kong Baptist University

• Looking Forward: Hong Kong as an International Art Hub | Thursday 23 March 2023, 4pm

  Hong Kong is quickly rebounding as a leading international hub for contemporary art. In this discussion, speakers from distinct creative fields share insights on how the Hong Kong art world is emerging from the pandemic – and what projects and patterns we can look forward to.

  Speakers: Teresa Kwong, Programme Director, Hong Kong Arts Centre; Sunnie Lau, Director, MIT Hong Kong Innovation Node; Sally Yeung, Curator, Po Leung Kuk Museum

  Moderator: Jennifer Pratt, Director, Strategic Partnerships, Artsy

Video Art: Citrus Worlds

Citrus Worlds, a collection of video art projects presented by Asia Society Hong Kong Center, invites us to a refreshment of ten Hong Kong artists’ digital narrations. Encompassing interpretations of absurdity, odes, fairy tales and observations, the artists’ creative visions are emulated in multimedia form. The selected works offer tart reminders of revisiting memories and embracing fantasy, welcoming everyone to dive into a world of digital fun and immersion. Featured artists Herman Chan, Jeff Cheng, Choi Sai Ho, Colbie Fung, Lau Wai, Florence Lee, Masahiro Nakamura, So Siu, Tsui Hou Lam and Winsome Wong.

Citrus World Highlights:

• Lau Wai incorporates personal and historical archives, cinematic imagery, popular culture and emerging digital mediums in their witty, multidisciplinary practice. The artist dons a motion capture suit, utilising Deepfake technology and computer-generated imagery to explore the concept of temporality in today’s fast-moving world.

Lau Wai, Feed 3.0 (still), 2021, 04'45", courtesy of the artist; Lau Wai, I am invincible...on the screen/ False (video still), 2019-20, 03'31", courtesy of the artist; Lau Wai, T318k V399k (video still), 2021, 01'00", courtesy of the artist.

• Tsui Hou Lam examines commodified love, emotions and the female body through the lens of Japanese commercials and mahō shōjo aesthetics. Sharp and prismatic, her works investigate the perversion of reality spearheaded by popular media, as well as their toxic consequences.

Tsui Hou Lam, Crystal Foam (video still), 2022, 02'22", courtesy of the artist; Tsui Hou Lam, our love is not destined, 2022, 03'21", courtesy of the artist.

• Winsome Wong sees eternity in ephemerality, beauty in decay. She utilises nature and quotidian encounters to illuminate the neglected, little things in life that constitute our contemporary experience. The artist’s works vary between tranquil and colourful, playful and melancholic; highlighting the spectrum of experiences that inform our most intimate memories.

Winsome Wong,The Forest Where the Deer Sleeps(videostill), 2021, 20'02", courtesy of the artist; Winsome Wong, Vi de O(video still), 2016-17, 06'31", courtesy of the artist.

Partner Programme: UOB Art Space and UOB Art Explorer

UOB, the Lead Partner of Art Central, is committed to nurturing artistic talent and fostering greater connectivity within and beyond Hong Kong through art. In their seventh year of collaboration with Art Central, UOB will present an innovative and interactive ink art installation that focuses on sustainability, as well as a talk at the Fair.

• UOB will present the 2022 UOB Art in Ink Awards’ winning artworks and Interwoven: Wired Shanshui, a large-scale installation by Margaret Yeung Kwok Fan at UOB Art Space. Commissioned by UOB, the installation transforms a conventional two-dimensional landscape painting into a three dimensional shanshui sculpture using recycled copper wires and natural waste wood. The contrasting materials are interwoven in harmony, seeking a hybridity that connects the past, present and future of traditional Chinese aesthetics, whilst highlighting the hopeful progress of sustainability and environmental protection. Yeung also mentored Guo Yin Kam, student winner of the 2022 UOB Art in Ink Awards, to create an interactive installation with digital artwork that will flux and change in response to visitors’ movements.

• With an aim to promote Chinese ink art, UOB will present the debut of UOB Art Explorer at Art Central, providing fair visitors with an opportunity to learn and experience Chinese ink art. Audiences are invited to be inspired by the sculptures and installation by artist Margaret Yeung and the winning artworks of the UOB Art in Ink Awards to create their own Chinese ink artworks through various forms of art creations.

• UOB will also present a talk titled Inner Reflections: New Interpretations of Traditional Ink, to take place on Saturday, 25 March 2023 from 3pm to 4pm. The artistic transformation of classical approaches in Chinese ink art is a theme readily explored by artists, many of whom draw from the historical canon to create unique aesthetics whilst honouring the past. In the talk, four speakers will share their insights into Chinese ink art as it stands today, highlighting the concurrent development of forward-thinking innovations and the humanistic values that the art form continues to uphold. The talk will be conducted in Cantonese.

  Speakers: Calvin Hui, Co-founder and Chairman of 3812 Gallery and Founder of Ink Now; Dr. Sarah Ng, Curator of the Hong Kong University Museum and Art Gallery; Dr. Chloe Suen, Chair of Simon Suen Foundation, Founder of Sun Museum; Dr. Margaret Yeung, Contemporary Chinese ink artist

  Moderator: Zabrina Lo, Feature Editor, Tatler Hong Kong

Christine Ip, CEO – Greater China, UOB, said, “We are pleased to be the Lead Partner of Art Central for the seventh consecutive year, in continuation of our unwavering commitment to fostering Hong Kong’s art scene. With the objectives to nurture local artistic talent and rejuvenate our cultural heritage by re-imagining the traditional medium of Chinese ink art, UOB will present a series of dynamic programmes that capture the essence of our steadfast support for art. We are truly excited to be providing audiences with an invigorating and unique art experience.”

Corey Andrew Barr, Fair Director, Art Central, said, “Art Central’s acclaimed curated programmes have long-championed practices that capture the dynamism, innovation and experimentation at the forefront of Asia’s contemporary art landscape. We are delighted to continue our long-standing partnerships with UOB and Asia Society Hong Kong Center to bring an exceptional and inspirational programme that

supports the art-makers and creative thinkers of tomorrow.”

Chris Wan, Curatorial Advisor, said, “Art Central is widely considered to be a Fair that captures the zeitgeist of contemporary art in Asia. As Curatorial Advisor of the Fair’s eighth edition, I am excited to present a multitude of spectacular creations that challenge the boundaries of contemporary Asian art in the Yi Tai Sculpture and Installation Projects. Art spectacle comes from everyday life, often changing shape and offering new opportunities to reflect our social relationships as mediated by images. I hope these immersive works will inspire fresh perspectives and compelling dialogues on the trajectory of art practices in the region among Art Central’s audiences.”

Advance Tickets to Art Central are now available. Visitors are encouraged to book online in advance to save: http://artcentralhongkong.com/visit/tickets

Fair Dates and Opening Hours

Preview (by invitation)

Tuesday 21 March 2023

General Opening

Wednesday 22 March 2023, 2pm – 8pm

Thursday 23 March 2023, 12pm – 8pm

Friday 24 March 2023, 12pm – 8pm

Saturday 25 March 2023, 11am – 6pm

About Art Central

Art Central, a cornerstone event of Hong Kong Art Week, showcases the next generation of talent from Asia’s most innovative galleries alongside distinguished artists from around the world. Since its inaugural edition in 2015, Art Central has established itself as a professional platform for pushing boundaries in contemporary art and is recognised today as a place of discovery for collectors and curators representing private, corporate, and institutional collections worldwide. The strong gallery line-up is complemented by a dynamic programme that includes large-scale and interactive installations, experimental film and performance and engaging panel discussions.

About Managing Director, Charles Ross

Charles Ross was the Managing Director of ART HK from its inception in 2007 until Art Basel acquired the Fair in 2011. He played a pivotal role in ART HK’s collaboration with Art Basel, and has been the Managing Director of Art Central, Taipei Dangdai and ART SG since their founding.

About Fair Director, Corey Andrew Barr

Corey Andrew Barr was formerly a Specialist and Head of Sales for Phillips, where he also organised exhibitions of contemporary art, photography, and design–working with leading international artists to mount exhibitions in New York and London. Prior to joining Art Central in 2019, Barr was the Director of a prominent Hong Kong and London-based gallery focusing on Asian Contemporary art and was responsible for influential gallery exhibitions and presentations at prestigious international fairs.

About Curatorial Advisor, Chris Wan

Chris Wan Feng is a Hong Kong-based writer and independent curator with a research focus on locality and art ecosystem. His recent curated exhibitions include A Collection in Two Acts (2022, Rossi&Rossi), The Dust of a Long Journey (2022, Whitestone), Residual Heat (2021, Axel Vervoordt), among others. In 2023, he initialised “Blue Throat”, an ongoing curatorial programme on Chinese diaspora and displacement. Chris has been contributing to many art journals and mass media, e.g., Artforum and Initium Media. He is also the founder and editor of Daoju (www.daoju.art), a not-for-profit art writing project with a focus of Hong Kong contemporary art scene.

Board of Directors

Tim Etchells, Sandy Angus and Will Ramsay co-founded Art Central in 2015. In 2008, Etchells and Angus were responsible for launching the first international art fair in Hong Kong, ART HK, which quickly became a major fixture in the international art world prior to Art Basel acquiring the Fair in 2011. Etchells and Angus are also co-owners of Sydney Contemporary, Taipei Dangdai and ART SG. In addition, Sandy Angus is the owner of India Art Fair and PHOTOFAIRS Shanghai.

About UOB

UOB is a leading bank in Asia. Operating through its head office in Singapore and banking subsidiaries in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, UOB has a global network of around 500 offices in 19 countries and territories in Asia Pacific, Europe and North America. Since its incorporation in 1935, UOB has grown organically and through a series of strategic acquisitions. Today, UOB is rated among the world’s top banks: Aa1 by Moody’s Investors Service and AA- by both S&P Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings.

For nearly nine decades, UOB has adopted a customer-centric approach to create long-term value by staying relevant through its enterprising spirit and doing right by its customers. UOB is focused on building the future of ASEAN - for the people and businesses within, and connecting with ASEAN.

The Bank connects businesses to opportunities in the region with its unparalleled regional footprint and leverages data and insights to innovate and create personalised banking experiences and solutions catering to each customer’s unique needs and evolving preferences. UOB is also committed to helping businesses forge a sustainable future, by fostering social inclusiveness, creating positive environmental impact and pursuing economic progress. UOB believes in being a responsible financial services provider and is steadfast in its support of art, social development of children and education, doing right by its communities and stakeholders.

About Asia Society Hong Kong Centre

Asia Society Hong Kong Center (ASHK), established in 1990 by a group of community leaders as an affiliate of Asia Society, is an independent non governmental educational organization with the mission to navigate shared futures for Asia and the world in the fields of arts and culture, business and policy. Since 2012, ASHK is situated at the Former Explosives Magazine, a former British Army stronghold steeped in history. Through conservation, restoration and adaptive reuse, the site has been transformed into a cultural and intellectual hub, offering a range of arts and culture, business and policy programs, and exhibitions to the community.