ART BASEL Hong Kong

SO!

In two days time I should be in Hong Kong to participate in the newest and very exciting Art Basel show. Instead, I am sitting at home writing my dissertation. Oh well...

"Art Basel stages the world's premier Modern and contemporary art shows, held annually in Basel, Miami Beach, and Hong Kong. Founded by gallerists in 1970, Art Basel has been a driving force in supporting the role that galleries play in the nurturing of artists, and the development and promotion of visual arts. In 1970, a few Basel gallerists put their passion and determination behind an ambitious vision, and now, over forty years later, Art Basel is recognized as the premier international art show, providing a platform for artists and gallerists from around the world. " (Art Basel)

ART BASEL HISTORY TIMELINE

Why Hong Kong?

Hong Kong Art Basel, which begins Wednesday at the city's harbor front convention center, will this year bring together 245 participating galleries—half coming from Asia and Asia-Pacific.

"One of the biggest contributions that we're able to make is to raise the profile of Hong Kong above and beyond being a centre for finance and retail," Art Basel director for Asia Magnus Renfrew told AFP. "Because we are an event of this scale, we've really been able to help generate discussion around art in the city," he said, adding that he sees "huge" growth potential in the Asian art scene. 

"The art market tends to follow the money and the greatest creation of wealth at the moment is in Asia," Renfrew said. (GmaNews)

Kaputt, Maurizio Cattelan

" With half of the participating galleries coming from Asia and Asia-Pacific, Art Basel in Hong Kong assumes a significant role in the international artworld, providing a portal to the region's artists. The new show gives galleries from around the world a platform in Asia to demonstrate the way they work with artists, and bring their highest quality work to Hong Kong." (Art Basel Hong Kong) 

If you plan to visit this years show happening between May 15 -18, here is some information for visitors.

I am truly gutted that I had to cancel my trip overseas but will make sure to visit one of Art Basel shows in the near future.

Yayoi Kusama

NOW, back to my dissertation!

Place branding through art fairs

Art & the City will examine how international cities are incorporating art in major new cultural quarters worldwide. From Belo Horizonte to Shanghai, from Latvia to the Middle East, and not to mention in London, the private sector is driving this regeneration. Developers are building cultural quarters and art hotels, retailers are blurring the lines between shops and galleries, and art fairs are branding cities and attracting tourism. (ART REINVENTS THE URBAN LANDSCAPE)

London Art Fair
UK’s largest Modern British and contemporary art fair, attracting 30,694 visitors in 2013, promotes BookaHotelDeal Ltd as the official accommodation supplier for hotels near Business Design Centre. (discounted rates not available via any website or other publicly available channel. (LondonArtFair) 
Furthermore, 
London Art Fair also advertises the surrounding abundance of cafes, bars and restaurants.  (LondonArtFair)
All VIPs (3484 people in 2013) are offered tours, receptions and openings at some of London’s most prestigious institutions such as the National Portrait Gallery, Tate Modern and Serpentine Gallery. (LondonArtFair)

Frieze
Frieze does not specifically promote local restaurants, but uses some chosen onces inside the venue to provide a full-service. The menu highlighted classic British dishes and included favourites from the Hix signature menu, as well as Mark’s own smoked salmon and a variety of oysters. (Frieze) 
Furthermore, the website promotes Londons´ best hotels, including Hyatt Regency London-The Churchill, Clarides. St Pancras Renaissance Hotel... (Frieze)

Art14
Art14 London drew artists, galleries and collectors from across the world, and saw an increased number of visitors at the second edition of London’s global art fair. The Fair ran from 28 February - 2 March at Olympia Grand, Kensington, presenting 180 galleries from 40 countries, and welcoming thousands of visitors over four days. Collectors and curators from around the world gathered for the Preview and art lovers and buyers attended in their thousands across the weekend, with strong sales reported. (Art14)

The London Original Print Fair
The London Oridinal Print Fair promotes mostly local restaurants:

• Royal Academy Restaurant 
• The Keeper’s House
• Gallery Café
• Atelier Café, Burlington Gardens 

(LondonPrintFair)

The Other Art Fair
Advertises London Sightseeings and shows how close those are tot he venue:

• Madame Tussaud’s: 1 min walk
• Marylebone High Street: 3 min walk
• Royal Academy of Music: 3 min walk
• Regent’s Park: 5 min walk
• Sherlock Holmes Museum: 6 min walk

(TheOtherFair)