Art Central welcomes over 41,000 visitors across five days

Art Central, presented in conjunction with Lead Partner, UOB, successfully concluded its ninth edition on 31 March 2024.

One of Hong Kong Art Week’s cornerstone events, the Fair was held from 28 to 31 March (with a Preview Day on 27 March) with sales reported throughout. Art Central presented a sweeping array of artwork and programming from 98 innovative galleries, with work by 500 distinguished artists from around the world, over the full creative platform that included performances, video art, and partner programmes. Art Central 2024 was financially supported by the Mega Arts and Cultural Events Fund under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government.

Art Central marked a return to the Fair’s iconic Central Harbourfront location in Hong Kong’s Central Business District for the first time since 2019, where over 41,000 local and international visitors viewed works by established and emerging contemporary artists. Visitors enjoyed a newly expanded roster of programming by distinguished artists and speakers from around the globe. Since its inception in 2015, Art Central has offered visitors an accessible, engaging, and social experience, with this year’s programming being the largest and most dynamic yet.

Underscoring the Fair’s commitment to serve as an influential incubator for artists and galleries, Art Central 2024 featured the launch of Neo, a new gallery sector curated by the Fair’s 2024 Curatorial Director, Enoch Cheng, which presented a curated selection of galleries participating in the Fair for the first time, all showing new or yet-to-be-discovered artists.

Amongst the artworks lauded at Art Central this year were a specially commissioned, large-scale installation by Hong Kong artist Ho Sin Tung (b. 1986, Hong Kong) entitled Shadow Boxing (2024), in addition to five large-scale artworks selected for Art Central’s 2024 Yi Tai Sculpture & Installation Projects sector. These included an installation by Kyoto-based Korean artist Sangsun Bae, and sculptures by Prague-based Rony Plesl, Tokyo-based Andrea Samory, Egyptian-born British artist Sam Shendi, as well as a monumental painting by Japanese artist Wataru Yamakami.

Art Central’s programme of Performance Art was also applauded and included Sunayama Norico’s world-renowned performance, A Sultry World (1995–), which made its Hong Kong debut, presented in partnership with CHAT (Centre for Heritage, Arts and Textile), as well as Art-is-Here Picnic (2024), a new work by Enoch Cheng, and Planting Tastes (2024) by Scarlet Yu. As the Lead Partner of Art Central for eight consecutive years, UOB proudly presented Mountains Beyond at Art Central. An interactive ink art installation by Hong Kong artist Yau Wing Fung, the work was commissioned by the Bank and offered audiences an exploration of the profound effects of light pollution on both humanity and the natural environment. Additionally, as part of its commitment to nurturing artistic talent and showcasing the works of artists from Hong Kong and beyond, the UOB Art Space at Art Central presented the 2023 UOB Art in Ink Awards Winners’ Showcase and the UOB Painting of the Year Showcase. Winning artworks of the 2023 UOB Art in Ink Awards from Hong Kong and Mainland China, as well as works by the UOB Painting of the Year winners from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam were exhibited at the fair. Joining hands with a registered charity, UOB Art Academy, the Bank offered 14 sessions of the UOB Art in Ink Workshops to over 250 people to enable them to experience the beauty of ink art. The Bank also organised a fireside chat to explore the power of ink art in community connections.

Hong Kong Tourism Board presented an exhibition that brought together Hong Kong contemporary artists to emphasise the city's unique character as a crossroad between the East and the West. The exhibition, Hardworking Aesthetics, brought together works by Hong Kong artists Olga Au, Natalie Chu, Lewis Lee, Silvester Mok, OrangeTerry, and Liv Tsim. Arts in Hong Kong Newsstand, an installation that highlighted local aesthetics and common ground where people connect and exchange ideas, invited Greater Bay Area artist Chen Fenwan to create a special artwork as part of the installation.

For its ninth edition, Art Central partnered with Black Sheep Restaurants to offer unparalleled hospitality through five dining concepts at “Eat Central by Black Sheep”, the Fair’s celebrated outdoor dining terrace, as well as Soho House Hong Kong, which hosted an exclusive Bar within the exhibition space that featured a mural curated by HKwalls and designed by Hong Kong-based Japanese artist TAXA.

Corey Andrew Barr, Fair Director of Art Central, said: “Art Central 2024 reaffirmed the Fair’s position as a cornerstone event of the contemporary art market in Asia, uniting international visitors with Hong Kong guests in a memorable celebration of art and creativity with significant commercial impact. With thanks to our Lead Partner, UOB, the Mega Arts & Cultural Events Fund of the HKSAR Government, and our many distinguished partners, this year we were able to expand our programming and present our most ambitious Fair yet. The tremendous turnout by local and international visitors underscores Art Central’s role as an essential platform for established and emerging contemporary artists.”

Christine Ip, CEO - Greater China and Head of Group Strategic Communications and Brand, UOB, stated: “UOB is proud to have been the longstanding Lead Partner of Art Central and is thrilled to celebrate the tremendous success of this year’s edition. The impressive display of art and the high number of visitors to Art Central are a testament to Hong Kong’s leading position in the international contemporary art scene. Like Art Central, UOB is committed to showcasing artistic talents from across Asia. This commitment was exemplified through the 2023 UOB Art in Ink Awards Winners’ Showcase and the UOB Painting of the Year Showcase, and the mesmerising interactive ink art installation Mountains Beyond by Yau Wing Fung. Through this collective effort, we aspire to strengthen the cultural connections in the region and forge a sustainable future from a cultural lens.”

WHAT EXHIBITING GALLERIES HAD TO SAY ABOUT ART CENTRAL 2024

“Art Central is a great destination for our gallery to showcase our artists, thanks to its vibrant atmosphere and diverse audience. The dynamic environment of Art Central fosters meaningful connections between artists and collectors.” – Dong Jo Chang, Director, The Columns Gallery, Seoul and Singapore.

“This is our first time exhibiting at Art Central. We have a solo booth by an emerging local artist, Thomas Ngan, who we selected as we thought they would be a good fit for the Art Central audience. We have sold half of the booth and have many ongoing conversations, and have met many new collectors and have had an excellent first-time experience.” – Agnes Wu, Gallery Manager, 3812 Gallery, Hong Kong.

“2024 has been a great return to the Central Harbourfront and we’re happy to be back with Art Central once again. The fair has bought a highly international audience and we’re happy to be connecting with visitors and collectors from home and abroad.” – Angela Li, Founder, Contemporary by Angela Li, Hong Kong.

“We had a very successful Fair, and notably sold out our solo booth of work by local artist Aries Wu within the first two hours of the VIP Preview.” – Enders Wong, Founder, Touch Gallery, Hong Kong.

“I believe Hong Kong is a powerful arts hub because of the genuine and cosmopolitan people who live here, and their deep understanding of the world over time. Hong Kong has eyes for upcoming artists. We have sold artwork by Korean artists Kwon O-Bong, and Jisu Jang, to Korean and Hong Kong collectors.” – Lee Ji Won, PNC Gallery, Daegu.

“Presenting Hong Kong artist Nobody Here this year was an absolute pleasure. The young and energetic crowd at Art Central engaged thoroughly with the artist's second ever solo presentation with the gallery.” – Aaditya Sathish, Associate Director, Square Street Gallery, Hong Kong.

“This year is our first time to participate in Art Central. The Fair is very popular and there are projects and installations in addition to the gallery exhibitions, which we hope to have the opportunity to be part of in the future.” – Ling Shao, Director, WAS Art Center, Ningbo.