Much Smaller Art Basel Hong Kong Carries On

Timed entry tickets to limit attendance, half the exhibit space, half the usual number of exhibitors, and open to the public for only ten hours spread over two days—it’s clear that virus procedures ruled over all. Nevertheless, after two years of planning and adjusting, Art Basel Hong Kong happened. According to ARTnews’ Valencia Tong, the structure provided more opportunities to engage with the exhibitors and discuss the works on display than the “massive crowds” version.

All of the exhibitors arriving from outside Hong Kong had to quarantine for weeks, so members of the Hong Kong art scene were hired to present the works at several booths. An on-line exhibit was available via Art Basel Live: Hong Kong, but only for a short period of time. Early sales reports were good.

Art Basel Hong Kong 2021 (detail), © Art Basel, unattributed press image courtesy of Art Basel