As Hong Kong continues to re-emerge from lockdown, the city’s gallery association has unveiled an ambitious new 10-day market initiative that aims to revive the industry after months of closures and cancellations, including its March art week.
Organizers of the event, titled “Unscheduled,” call it a “response to these unprecedented times.” It will operate a lot like a fair, but they’re billing it as “a platform for selling and networking that will present solo exhibitions from [the association’s] gallery members, with a focus on modern and contemporary art that has a connection to Asia.”
The event will run from June 17—27 in the heritage-listed Duplex Studio in the Police Headquarters Block at Tai Kwun. A free-flowing floor plan, designed in collaboration with BEAU Architects, will be adopted in place of traditional art fair booth to create a more decentralized and inclusive framework for the galleries. To address health and safety concerns, measures like timed ticketing will in place to avoid overcrowding.
Unscheduled will be held at Tai Kwun Block. Duplex Studio. Image courtesy of Tai Kwun 相片由大館提供
The 13 participating galleries, which were selected by an independent team of Hong Kong-based curators and artists, including Ying Kwok and Sara Wong, will each show one artist. The organizing committee is spearheaded by Willem Molesworth (of de Sarthe Gallery) and Fabio Rossi (of Rossi & Rossi) as Hong Kong Art Gallery Association board members.
Some of the proceeds from ticket sales will be distributed back to the participating galleries and donated to local charity partner Hands On Hong Kong to support its relief efforts.
Below, read the full list of participating galleries.
10 Chancery Lane, Hong Kong
Ben Brown Fine Arts, London and Hong Kong
Contemporary by Angela Li, Hong Kong
de Sarthe, Hong Kong
Edouard Malingue Gallery, Hong Kong
Hanart TZ Gallery, Hong Kong
Kwai Fung Hin Art Gallery, Hong Kong
L+ / Lucie Chang Fine Arts, Hong Kong
Leo Gallery, Hong Kong
Over The Influence, Hong Kong
Pearl Lam Gallery, Hong Kong
Rossi & Rossi, London
Whitestone Gallery, Hong Kong, Taipei, Tokyo, Karuizawa, Ginzu