‘Business as usual’ for Art Basel after security law

The Art Basel contemporary art fair opened in Hong Kong on Wednesday, offering a combination of physical and virtual shows as many art collectors and curators were not able to travel to the city because of Covid-19 restrictions.

The annual fair, which also has versions in Basel, Switzerland, and in Miami Beach, Florida, was cancelled in Hong Kong last year because of the pandemic. In 2019, it had attracted over 80,000 art lovers.

This year, organisers have limited the number of visitors to the fair, which runs until Sunday, in compliance with government social distancing rules.

The fair is being held for the first time since Beijing imposed its national security law in Hong Kong, which some critics say has resulted in a loss of freedom of expression in the city.

But Art Basel’s Hong Kong director Adeline Ooi dismissed such concerns.

“It has been business as usual. There hasn’t been any change in terms of how we’ve had to operate,” she said.

“Hong Kong has set itself up, as a mission, to be a cultural hub,” she added, denying media speculation that the fair may move to another Asian city in reaction to the security law.

Since June last year when the law took effect, scrutiny over arts, culture and media has intensified. Leader Carrie Lam has said that the government respects artistic freedom but national security was a red line.

On Wednesday, hundreds of local visitors meandered through galleries while overseas collectors were shown around via FaceTime.

“It’s overwhelming and great that we are actually able to do the fair this year, despite all the difficulties and circumstances we’re dealing with,” said Ooi. “One of the greatest challenges is the fact that international travel was not possible.”

Over 100 galleries are taking part, fewer than half the number in 2019, with a handful featuring works themed around the pandemic. About half of the participants are international galleries that have not been able to set up their own physical shows and are instead represented at booths staffed on their behalf by Art Basel personnel. (Reuters)