Our Top Picks from Art Basel Hong Kong 2022
This year our team at Artisanu had the chance to visit the Art Basel Hong Kong 2022. We also had the privilege of learning about some of the artwork through a private tour with Asian Art Archive. It was a bustling environment with lots of art lovers, and we got to bump into some fellow art educators and creatives there. Despite the fifth wave of covid delaying the Art Basel in Hong Kong during March, it was finally available to the public from May 27-May 29 2022 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC).
We were delighted to explore the show which featured a diverse range of galleries from around the world. Works by prominent artists such as Yoshitomo Nara, Takashi Murakami, Banksy, and Keith Haring were featured. Most exciting was the sheer amount of international and local artists, including up-and-coming Hong Kong artists.
With such a vast range of artworks and limited time to cover everything, in no particular order, here are our top 5 picks from the show this year that resonated with us.
Art Basel Hong Kong 2022 at the
Hong Kong Convention and
Exhibition Centre
1. Jongsuk Yoon (Germany-based from South Korea), Galerie nächst St. Stephan Rosemarie Schwarzwälder, Vienna
Jongsuk Yoon, Kumgangsan,
2021, oil on canvas, 200 x 350 cm
Jongsuk Yoon’s expressive spatial landscape-like paintings caught our eye. Her pieces contained hints of pastel and layers showing gestural movement. In her piece "Kumgangsan" the hues of transparent peach on top of the red-orange shapes provide a sense of light and warmth. The large scale of the pieces help them to create a visual space that our eyes can enter, and when standing in front of these pieces you cannot help but feel immersed in the vibrant environment that soothes the soul. In this sense they remind us of Rothko’s color field paintings, demonstrating their unique personality through the layered organic shapes.
Learn More: http://www.johyungallery.com/artists/jongsuk-yoon/
2. Nicole Coson (UK-based from Manila), Silverlens Gallery, Manila
Two of Nicole Coson's paintings,
both titled 'Untitled' and painted
with oil on linen
Nicole Coson’s pieces stood out because of their simplicity and nuanced details. As we stood in front of the booth, we saw two long vertical paintings. Each painting featured window blinds rendered in neutral tones, with contrasts between the light and dark pieces. The choice of color scheme and subject are both subtle, yet the intentionality of the artist's choice and its beauty reverberated to us loudly. The paintings feature an everyday moment in which you can view the outside. Instead, you are given a perspective from the inside, providing a sense of enclosure and quiet. The medium used is oil on linen, with the pieces each titled ‘Untitled.’ Repetition of lines and the occasional slanted gap give the viewer a glimpse into a new space of emptiness. It seems personal and yet a bit cold in the sense that the only person present is the viewer themselves.
Learn More: https://nicolecoson.com/
3. KwangHo Lee (Seoul, Korea), Leeahn Gallery, Seoul
Three artworks from KwangHo Lee's
‘Obsession' series (2021)
KwangHo Lee’s pieces definitely stood out even from a distance due to their color choice. As we slowly approached them, some appeared as furniture, an installation, or fine art objects, with a clean design. Each piece shows a puzzle-like design with the interlocking of chains, forming a visually tactile experience. The colors are highly saturated and the contrasting hues allow each piece to pop out. The artwork is actually created with nylon material, which gives it a refreshing sense of playfulness.
Learn More: http://www.kwangholee.com/
4. Alec Egan (Los Angeles, United States), Anat Ebgi Gallery, Los Angeles
Alec Egan (Left) Tulip on windowsill,
2022, (Right) Fruit Bowl with Bird, 2021,
oil and flashe on canvas, 182.9 x 152.4 cm
Alec Egan’s artwork stood out to us because of the high level of technical skill and craftsmanship. Each piece creates an environment that seems to be representational with strong tones of surrealism. We were impressed by the detail in each piece, particularly the meticulousness required to paint patterned fabrics. When you look closer, you can see that the artist often adds a touch of texture with impasto into symbols such as a branch or a bird. The collection of work was visually cohesive. Each painting features sophisticated textiles juxtaposed with the simplicity of the everyday interior and exterior environments. Whether it be a peek into a backyard or garden, or the interior of a house, Egan manages to portray a recognizable scene in a surreal dream. As a viewer, it makes you question the reality of it all.
Learn More: https://anatebgi.com/artists/alec-egan/
5. Tobe Kan (Hong Kong), Gallery EXIT, Hong Kong
Tobe Kan, Omicron, 2022,
acrylic and oil pastel on canvas, 140 x 180 cm
Tobe Kan’s artwork features monochromatic blue tones and evokes nature, which creates a sense of quiet and calm. We had the privilege to have a brief conversation with the artist herself about the essence of her pieces. She enjoys exploring relationships between her and her paintings, favoring trees or farms from Hong Kong as her subjects. Her creative process incorporates an interplay between space and body gestures. The application of oil pastel along with acrylic in the paintings adds depth to the textures to provide dimensionality. Trees and farm are the subjects, but the unique elements of her pieces stem from the artist’s interpretation of her own imaginary spaces and memories. This gives her artwork an emotional and personal touch.
Learn More: http://www.galleryexit.com/tobe-kan-kiu-sin.html
The Art Basel Hong Kong 2022 is significant for the local art scene. We hope that Hong Kong continues to grow as an art hub in Asia.
Overall we had a splendid experience visiting the Art Basel Hong Kong 2022. We walked away refreshed and feeling optimistic as fellow artists ourselves.
Hong Kong has hosted the Art Basel since 2013, only being canceled once in 2020 due to the pandemic. The benefits of Art Basel are twofold. On one hand, it solidifies Hong Kong as a growing art hot spot in Asia that provides international galleries and artists the chance to show. The Art Basel Hong Kong serves as an accessible platform to collectors and art enthusiasts alike. Hong Kong has always been an international city where the east and the west meet. We hope that there will continue to be an influx of overseas artwork and collectors.
On the other hand, the Art Basel demonstrates that the financial, art and government sectors are interacting more with one another. This provides more opportunities for local artists. This was refreshing considering Hong Kong is mainly known as a business and finance-oriented city. The Hong Kong Art Basel was a large-scale event that required contributions from many stakeholders, including curators, directors, patrons, and art institutions. UBS was the lead partner for the event, while M+ and Hong Kong Tourism Board also collaborated on projects with local artists. With more patrons and art administrators supporting artists, the art scene and culture in Hong Kong shows optimism.
Art Basel Hong Kong 2022 gave us the chance to enjoy artwork from all around the world. Most importantly, it provided a glimpse of what the contemporary art world has to offer.
We look forward to covering more of these events in the future.