Hong Kong, the shining pearl of Asia, carries the brilliance of world-class festivals and unique cultural brilliance, like a yellow crane soaring in the floating clouds, spreading its wings and roaming in the infinite artistic sky. In today's China, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is like nine brilliant beads, embellished on the banks of the Pearl River and the South China Sea, stretching into a gorgeous brocade chain of cultural and economic development.
Relying on the tide of the Greater Bay Area and the surging times, "the wind comes from the sea, the tide swells in the Greater Bay Area", this area is rapidly taking shape, in which Hong Kong is imaginatively activated by the complex and challenging future landscape, and various cultural and artistic samples have become a springboard to innovation and development, shouldering the mission and responsibility of shuttling through global cultural exchanges.
Hong Kong, photo courtesy of the Hong Kong Tourism Board
The construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is not only a chapter in regional development, but also a powerful engine for a new round of reform and opening up, and a sharp spearhead for China to intervene in international economic and trade competition. In this continuous economic development, what we cannot ignore is the power of culture, the profound accumulation of culture and the social changes it brings. Business guru Michael Porter once said that the advantage based on culture is the most irreplaceable competitiveness and the core engine of urban development.
ARTS IN HK
View of Art Basel 2024 in Hong Kong, courtesy of Art Basel
The city is the medium and intermediary of today's art, and art is an important medium and channel for communication between different cities, regions and countries. Through art, the human community can gain the possibility of dialogue, and through the practice, integration and exchange of art, it can feed back the new ecological development of the city under the changes of the times. Starting from art, it is oriented to the ecology and changes of the future urban society, as well as the growth process of society in the form of a culture, and at the same time, it also has the discourse transformation of art-space-society.
Located in the heart of the South China coastline, Hong Kong is a historical international trading port with natural connections to the rest of the world. The implementation of a modern infrastructure for its ports and aviation hubs has effectively facilitated the flow of people, goods, information and culture, making Hong Kong a natural bridge for artistic exchanges between China and the rest of the world. This unique geographical advantage has enabled Hong Kong to play a pivotal and medium-sized role in the development of global art, attracting international artists, curators, collectors and art lovers.
View of Art Basel 2024 in Hong Kong, courtesy of Art Basel
Art Basel Hong Kong 2024, courtesy of Art Basel
At the same time, as a free-market economy, Hong Kong's transparent legal system and sound market rules provide a favorable environment for international art transactions. These liberal economic policies not only ensure the healthy development of the art market, but also encourage innovation and the flourishing of creative industries.
Art Central
Art Central 2024，图片由Art Central提供
In such a culturally diverse and economically dynamic context, Hong Kong's role as a global art hub cannot be underestimated, the city has unrivaled geographical and economic advantages, the openness of the free market and the rule of law provide convenience for art transactions, and its status as a financial center has injected capital vitality and diversified investors into the art market. Hong Kong's multiculturalism, the convergence of the best cultures from around the world, and the rich investment in arts infrastructure, such as the Victoria Harbour Arts Festival, the establishment of the West Kowloon Cultural District, the high-end art market system, and an open and inclusive arts education environment, have deeply strengthened Hong Kong's position as a world economic and arts powerhouse.
ART MARCH
Installation view of "teamLab: Light Ripples", teamLab
"By embracing a wide range of art forms, Hong Kong Art Month showcases the infinite possibilities of art and inspires the public's imagination and enthusiasm for art. This diversity is not limited to the content of the exhibitions, but also to the forms of events, from traditional gallery exhibitions to street art performances to high-tech virtual reality art experiences, each of which aims to bring art closer to people's lives and, in turn, promote the development of Hong Kong's art economy.
Yang Fudong, Yongque, M+, Hong Kong, Yang Fudong
Exhibition view of "Van Gogh Music Print", Li Guangnan
According to the 2024 Art Basel and UBS Global Art Market Report 2024 written by Arts Economics founder Dr. Clare McTAndrew, the total global art market will reach $65 billion in 2023, down 4% year-on-year, but still higher than the $64.4 billion before the pandemic. Among the factors restricting the development of the art market are: the decline in the sales of art at high price levels, high inflation and interest rates, and international tensions in some regions. Respondents to the report also cited rising costs such as logistics and rent.
View of Art Basel 2024 in Hong Kong, courtesy of Art Basel
Among them, sales in the Chinese art market increased by 9% from $11.2 billion last year to about $12.2 billion. China, which emerged from the pandemic in the first half of the year, saw a particularly strong performance in the auction industry, as the country's only national market to grow at the premium end of the market was flooded with art inventories that had accumulated in the past. Art exhibitions in Chinese mainland and Hong Kong also resumed at full speed, boosting art dealer revenues. This has also made China the second largest art market in the world, overtaking the UK.
View of Art Basel 2024 in Hong Kong, courtesy of Art Basel
In this context, the Hong Kong Arts Month is particularly important. Bringing together international artists, galleries, collectors and art lovers, the event not only enriches the public's enjoyment of art, but also promotes the development of art scholarship and social impact in Hong Kong, while demonstrating the strong cultural appeal of Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area on the global art stage. The transformation of the Global South highlights Hong Kong's role as a bridge in the global cultural context and broadens our horizons and understanding of art.
ComplexCon Hong Kong, courtesy of the Hong Kong Tourism Board
Under this strategic framework, Hong Kong's mission is to maintain its status as an international art hub, while at the same time taking new steps in the discourse and influence of the global cultural field. To this end, Hong Kong needs to make full use of its geographical location, economic policy and cultural resources to provide a solid platform and a wide range of opportunities for regional cooperation.
West Kowloon Family Fun Festival: Tea House Family Session, photo courtesy of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority
CHANCE & CHALLENGE
In the post-epidemic era, how to grasp and use the fresh power of art to create more lasting value in the public sphere and a new impetus for society are the challenges and opportunities faced by the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. As an important cultural event, Hong Kong's Arts Month not only confirms Hong Kong's central position on the art scene at home and abroad, but also points out the important position of art in social development. With the help of such an art exchange platform, Chinese and foreign cultures have been fully engaged in dialogue and integration, thus injecting new impetus and vitality into the development of global art and culture.
Art Basel Hong Kong's Director Le Siyang was interviewed by Phoenix Art
Many art critics have pointed out the social impact of Hong Kong Art Month, "Art Month not only raises the level of art appreciation among the public, but more importantly, it stimulates public attention and thinking about social issues through art." This social impact is also reflected in the development of the art market. Economist Chen Daming believes that "the holding of Art Month has greatly promoted the prosperity of the local art market, attracted a large amount of international capital, and contributed to the internationalization of the Hong Kong art market." ”
M+ Director Suhanya Raffel is interviewed by Phoenix Arts
In addition, Hong Kong's multicultural social background makes it a place where different cultural expressions and artistic practices meet. An inclusive social climate encourages artistic expression in all its forms, and many art festivals, museums, galleries and exhibition halls, supported by government or private investment, provide platforms and opportunities for artistic creation and presentation.
Lam Kwok-fai, Director of the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, was interviewed by Phoenix Art
According to some scholars, "Hong Kong Art Month provides a valuable field research opportunity for art historians to engage directly with contemporary art practice and promote the deep integration of theory and practice." This perspective highlights the contribution of Arts Month activities to the promotion of art theory and scholarly exchange, especially in exploring local art history and cultural identity.
View of Art Basel 2024 in Hong Kong, courtesy of Art Basel
View of Art Basel 2024 in Hong Kong, courtesy of Art Basel
Hong Kong Arts Month provides a platform for participants to exchange and share their ideas by inviting artists from all over the world to participate in exhibitions, performances and interactive art activities, bringing together creativity from different countries and cultural backgrounds. This international focus not only provides opportunities for local artists in Hong Kong to learn and exchange, but also provides a stage for artists from all over the world to showcase and express their work. These cross-border and cross-cultural art activities have effectively promoted global art exchanges and dialogues, and enhanced the international visibility and recognition of Hong Kong art.
View of Art Basel 2024 in Hong Kong, courtesy of Art Basel
In addition to artist exchanges, Hong Kong Art Month also hosts a series of academic discussions, inviting art historians, critics and art curators to discuss the trends and developments of art, focusing on the interaction between art and society. Through these discussions and research, Hong Kong Arts Month has made a positive contribution to the development of art theory and the innovation of art practice.
ART & PUBLIC
West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD) (Source: Hong Kong Tourism Board)
Hong Kong's education system offers a wide variety of arts courses in both public and private institutions. World-class art schools, such as the Hong Kong Art School, offer professional art training and in-depth cultural studies. This high-quality art education has not only cultivated a team of local artists in Hong Kong, but also attracted art students from all over the world to study and exchange with each other.
View of the M+ building from Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong, photo: Virgile Simon Bertrand Virgile Simon Bertrand
Image courtesy of Herzog & de Meuron
Professional arts infrastructure is also key to maintaining Hong Kong's status as an international arts hub. From the new West Kowloon Cultural District, to the historic Hong Kong Museum of Art, to a variety of private galleries and exhibition spaces, these facilities not only provide space for artists and works to showcase, but also provide opportunities for citizens and international visitors to experience art. More importantly, this professional exhibition environment helps to improve the internationalization level of the overall art market and promote the trading and collecting activities of artworks.
Hong Kong Heritage Museum, photo courtesy of the Hong Kong Tourism Board
Hong Kong Palace Museum, courtesy of Hong Kong Palace Museum
The public art project is also one of the highlights of Hong Kong Art Month. Through art projects in urban spaces, such as outdoor sculpture exhibitions, wall graffiti, interactive installations, etc., the public can directly interact with the artworks, so that art can go beyond the traditional space and become a part of the daily life of citizens. This popularization of public art not only improves the artistic aesthetics and cultural literacy of citizens, but also creates new social dynamics in urban spaces, encouraging interaction and connection inside and outside the community.
Kwok Tat-lun, "Schödinger Bed", photo courtesy of the Hong Kong Tourism Board
Alicja Kwade, The Order of the World (Totem), courtesy of the Hong Kong Tourism Board
Further, art plays a key role in the social ecology of cities. With the acceleration of urbanization, art has become an important driving force for urban renewal and social vitality. The promotion of cultural and artistic projects can not only beautify the city, but also reactivate abandoned spaces, promote urban regeneration, and enhance the image of the city. At the same time, through artistic activities, multicultural interaction within the community is promoted, which helps to enhance the inclusiveness and cohesion of the community.
Hong Kong, courtesy of Art Central
All in all, Hong Kong Arts Month not only strengthens Hong Kong's ties with the global art scene, but also enhances the international image of Hong Kong art and the international it brings, by hosting a variety of international art events, academic discussions and public art projects. At the same time, the role of art in Hong Kong Arts Month also guides the path of urban renewal, community development and quality of life improvement, reflecting the indispensable importance of arts and culture in modern urban development.
(Article from Phoenix Art)
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