There are many highlights within the ART HK mega-show. This article may help get you through the 155 participating galleries and thousands of art works without losing your way. It would be easy to get lost at this year's huge ART HK fair, not just within the works but navigating your way through them too.
Michael Wolf's Architecture of Density series is shown left. In this Architecture of Density series, Hong Kong based photographer Michael Wolf finds poetry even in the most mundane and rigid architectural forms, portraying intimate details of its inhabitants.
Even for those who have seen his previous works in Hong Kong, check out these blown-up prints. They create quite a different impression.
Here is a list of several pieces we think you should hunt down, if only because they give your day out a plan to follow. Eight is a lucky number in Chinese numerology, so we know you will have luck in finding something you like. Treat these works as orienteering points and freely wander from one to another. You will have walked through the entire fair by the end of the tour.
A cross between painting and cinema, The Creek, shown right, is a multi-media installation of a contemporary tragedy. Special Project: The Creek (Booth 9)
Walk down the hall of this dimly lit chapel-like room. Instead of a stained-glass window at the end of the aisle, you will find an oil painting of a contemporary tragedy. The story unfolds before you as different parts of the painting are lit in sequence. The work references the religious painting of Caravaggio and is the brainchild of filmmaker Baz Luhrmann (director of ìRomeo + Julietî and Moulin Rouge!) and painter Vincent Fantauzzo.
Sohei Nishino created a montage from the thousands of pictures he took of Hong Kong. Diorama Map of Hong Kong/ Michael Hoppen Gallery (Booth B04)
Take a close look at this photo montage of Hong Kong and you might be able to spot your favorite local hangout. Twenty-eight year-old Japanese artist Sohei Nishino walked all over Hong Kong, taking thousands of pictures (over 200 a day) then pasted them together to re-create the city from his memory. This photo is shown on our Featured Video page.
Nam June Paik's classic TV Buddha/ James Cohan Gallery (Booth D06) is shown right. A Buddha sits facing its own image on a TV screen -- is he reflecting on himself or watching TV? A contrast of East and West, tradition and technology, this variation of video art pioneer Nam June Paikís 1974 classic "TV Buddha" is still relevant today.
Hungarian artist PÈter Tams Halsz constructed a replica of the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building from computer cooling systems. The sculptures are heated from the bottom by electric hot plates. These financial buildings overheat and cool off, overheat and cool off -- all turning into quite pointless operations.
You will see a lot people bobbing their heads in front of this booth. No kidding. Artist Teddy Lo uses LED lights and digital programming to play tricks with your brain so that you can control what you want to see. The piece, shown left, is aptly titled, Do You See Me?
Learn about contemporary Chinese art from 1980-1990. Contemporary Chinese Art from 1980-1990/ Asia Art Archive (G01)
The boom in contemporary Chinese art mirrored the rapid economic growth of the country. Learn this history in the replica of a 1980s artist studio from the pleasant guides at the Asia Art Archive booth.
Turkish photographer Lale Tara is known for taking pictures of life-size dolls modeled after herself. She sees these dolls as her ghostly doubles and sets them up in surroundings that include deserted houses, dilapidated churches and an abortion clinic. Her latest series, Innocent Surrogates, focuses on the portrayal of Madonna and Child.
This 12-meter long painting by Huang Min portrays the many faces of Chinese tourism: porters, tour groups, backpackers and local villagers. Chinese contemporary art established itself on realistic portraits like this one. They often delve into socio-political issues with an ironic touch and are therefore branded 'Cynical Realism'.
