Fair’s distinctly Asian edge celebrates Hong Kong as a global centre for contemporary art

(Hong Kong, 21 March 2016) Art Central, Hong Kong’s contemporary art fair with an Asian edge has been unveiled, with over 100 galleries from 21 countries, 75% hailing from greater Asia. The fair officially kicks off with First Night, one of the most anticipated events on Hong Kong’s cultural calendar, before opening to the public from 23-26 March (VIP Preview 22 March). A site of discovery, the fair boasts a strong gallery line-up and presents over 500 emerging and established artists from Asia and around the world. Housed within the city’s largest ever bespoke temporary structure, the fair presents a dynamic program that includes interactive installations, engaging panel discussions, experimental film and performance art alongside Hong Kong’s hottest restaurants. Art Central 2016 will engage all from seasoned collectors and avid art enthusiasts to families and students.

Launched in 2015, Art Central’s debut added a fresh new dimension to Hong Kong Art Week and was embraced by the Hong Kong public, and international collectors and buyers alike. The second edition brings a distinctly Asian edge as it presents the next generation of talent alongside some of the more established names in contemporary art, further elevating Hong Kong as an international arts destination.

Tim Etchells, Co-Founder of Art Central and ART HK, (which subsequently has become Art Basel in Hong Kong) says, “We are truly proud of what Art Central has achieved in helping to further promote Hong Kong as a global arts hub. The success of the inaugural edition proved that Hong Kong was ready for a complementary fair and an Art Week that rivals the likes of London, New York and Miami. What we have created is a parallel fair unlike any other; presented to the very highest of standards. We look forward to redefining expectations with our second edition and continuing to solidify Hong Kong’s place as the global centre for contemporary Asian art.”

Maree Di Pasquale, Fair Director, says, “Art Central 2016 has been designed to push boundaries and transcend the traditional art fair experience. From site-specific installations and entertaining yet at times hard-hitting performance art, to a world-class talks program and some of Hong Kong’s most exciting new restaurants, the fair’s second edition has raised the bar with an ambitious program that appeals to both the connoisseur collector and art enthusiast alike.”

“Art Central shares strong foundations with Hong Kong’s art industry and we truly believe in Hong Kong’s standing as the international centre for Asian art. Taking place during a now internationally recognised Art Week, Art Central 2016 will help to further define Hong Kong as a catalyst for arts and culture globally, said Maree.”

“It is fantastic to have such a strong line of partners involved this year, from Swarovski who is presenting an incredible kinetic installation ‘Sundew’ by the Swarovski Young Designers of the Future winner Elaine Yan Ling Ng, to J.Crew’s RISE Award putting the spotlight on the next generation of artistic talent. It is truly great to see the commitment of Hong Kong businesses across so many sectors to supporting the arts,” said Maree.

Along with museum quality works and cutting-edge programming, food and socialising are key ingredients to the Art Central experience. From Neo-Parisian dishes in the city’s most coveted new restaurant, Belon, to relaxing in the Street Food area while listening to a live DJ and enjoying a drink at Guru Jimmy’s Absolut Ashram of Spirituality (2016 Absolut Art Bar), Art Central will have guests lingering as they enjoy Art Central’s take on flavour and style.

New this year is the fair’s first exhibition of digital, new media and performance art supported by Official Champagne Partner, G.H. Mumm. MEDIA X MUMM features five daring and thought-provoking new media art installations with strong thematic elements that challenge visitors to explore the realms of new media art and question perceptions of artistic expression. The experimental art space The Container, a contemporary gallery in Nakameguro, Tokyo, has been replicated and constructed in the Street Food area. One of the four specially curated projects is Jack McLean’s Empty Headed Landscapes which presents works from three different, nonetheless related, bodies of work that include large-scale drawings and live performance. The theme of his work is acceptance of the futility of human endeavour, a delight in the absurdity of the human species and an emphasis on humour as a collective point of access.

Another new addition to the fair, SCREEN X EXPERIMENTA is curated by Hong Kong’s own Gina Wong and presents a diverse program of experimental and narrative film from emerging talent from Asia and the world. Screened for one hour each day of the fair, three different thematic streams – World Drama, Poetry and Stage – explore a diverse range of curatorial themes and techniques in experimental cinema and promise to challenge and entertain audiences.

A site for discovery and education, Art Central has provided a platform for some of the region’s most active non-profit spaces, publications and curators, to develop programming that engages the fairgoer in fun and sometimes challenging ways. New for 2016 is 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art (Sydney) hosting ROUNDTABLE X 4A, a series of discussions, interviews, and performances that focus on artistic and curatorial practices from across Asia and the Pacific. The interactive program also features new performances by artists Frances Barrett, Abdullah M.I. Syed and Latai Taumoepea, each of which reflect on the context of contemporary art in Asia. The Flying Buck by Abdullah M.I. Syed brings to the fore inherent narratives of institutionalism, capitalism and consumer culture, particularly in the context of the art market and the force of economic powers within.

Tickets to Art Central are available for sale online via HK Ticketing with two for one on advanced tickets available now.

Art Central Management Team:
Fair Director Maree Di Pasquale was Co-Fair Director of the inaugural Art Central. Previously Maree worked as Assistant Director of the Melbourne Art Fair and the first edition of Sydney Contemporary. She has also worked with TDIC on Abu Dhabi Art and the Saadiyat Island Cultural District museums project.

Board of Directors:
Tim Etchells, Sandy Angus, Will Ramsay and Charles Ross together founded the inaugural Art Central. The same team together founded ART HK in 2008, which quickly became a major fixture of the international art world, prior to Art Basel acquiring the Fair in 2011.

Tim Etchells went on subsequently to found Art16 in London and Sydney Contemporary in 2013. He also managed and operated Melbourne Art Fair in 2014.

Sandy Angus is a Director of India Art Fair and co-founded Istanbul’s newest art fair, ArtInternational in 2013. He co–founded Art16 in London and in 2014 founded Photo Shanghai, the first international art fair dedicated to photography in Asia-Pacific.

Will Ramsay is the founder of the PULSE Art Fairs which are staged annually in New York and Miami.  He is a Director of India Art Fair and also founder of the Affordable Art Fairs, which are staged in a variety of cities across the world.

Art Central Managing Director, Charles Ross was also Managing Director of ART HK since the fair’s inception in 2007. He played a pivotal role in ART HK’s collaboration with Art Basel, and has been Managing Director of Art16 in London since its inception.

First Night
Monday 21 March                           5.00pm – 9:00pm

VIP Preview
Tuesday 22 March                          10:00am – 6:00pm
Wednesday 23 March                    11:00am – 12:00pm
Thursday 24 March                        11:00am – 12:00pm

Public Opening Hours
Wednesday 23 March                    12:00pm – 7:00pm
Thursday 24 March                        12:00pm – 7:00pm
Friday 25 March                              11:00am – 7:00pm
Saturday 26 March                         11:00am – 6:00pm 

Selection Committee:
Angela Li, Contemporary by Angela Li (Hong Kong), Cho Jeong Yeol, GALLERY HYUNDAI (Seoul), Christa Schübbe, Schuebbe Inc (Düsseldorf), Conny Dietzschold, Conny Dietzschold Gallery (Sydney), and Richard Koh, Richard Koh Fine Art (Kuala Lumpur).

Follow Art Central
www.artcentralhongkong.com
Facebook: /artcentralhk
Instagram: /artcentralhk
Twitter: /artcentralhk

Online Preview
The opportunity to preview works at the fair will be available online exclusively at Artsy.net from Wednesday 16 March 2016. Artsy’s dedicated Art Central microsite and app will feature works available for sale at the fair, as well as fair highlights picked by art world insiders and a complete schedule of onsite talks and events.