If you love art, whether it’s to look at or to collect, you won’t want to miss the 11th edition of Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong. The grand showcase of contemporary art, which turns 25 this year, returns to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from 16 to 19 May 2024. Almost 100 exhibitors are set to show their works, hailing from as far afield as Peru, Cyprus and Spain. Asian countries being represented include Singapore, Japan, Malaysia and Indonesia, with plenty of Hong Kong artists too!
The theme this year is “I am an art collector” – very appropriate, since the Affordable Art Fair provides a window for first-time art collectors to buy affordable art under HK$100,000 from international galleries and emerging artists.
6 Special Projects at the Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong
One of the spotlight programmes of this year’s event is Special Projects, featuring artists from different disciplines invited by the Fair to create large-scale installations and experiences. We preview a few of them here!
Speakeasy Bar: Neon
Curated by Taiwanese-American artist Jonathan Jay Lee (JJL), Neon is inspired by the secret side-alley bars commonly found in Hong Kong. Bringing the local Sham Shui Po neighbourhood to the art fair, visitors can immerse themselves in the artworks of JJL while having a taste of HK-inspired cocktails designed by renowned sommelier and beverage director Kiyoshi Hoshimi-Caines (Yardbird, RŌNIN). Note: This special add-on experience is co-presented by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, with tickets available on Eventbrite.
A Feast of Chinese Ink Painting
In Chinese history, ink is not merely an art form, but a symbol of culture. Today, Chinese ink painting is undergoing a process of modernisation. This project spotlights five Chinese artists, including Cai Tianmei’s experimental and “accidental” ink paintings, Yi Yan’s reflections on contemporary social issues, Li Dongyao’s macroscopic and microscopic paintings, Liu Jia’s surrealist works, and Zhang Bin’s interpretation of humanity through “mushroom” sculptures.
Street Art-inspired Wall by Ceet Fouad
Algerian-born artist Ceet Fouad paints a wall adorned with his signature “chicanos”. Through vibrant and harmonious colours, Ceet’s chickens embody deep emotions and personalities, conveying a profound message that critiques modern-day society. Ceet’s work challenges the notion of conformity, emphasising the importance of “going against the grain”. For Ceet, graffiti, both legally and illegally, serves as a powerful medium to connect with society.
Lenticular Leaves & Tree Installation – Celebrating Season’s Change
The new contemporary art series of TAG Fine Arts by Ewan David Eason, “Season’s Change” investigates the colours, stages of growth and patterns within the cycle of trees across the four seasons. This project will include a life-sized tree placed at the Fair, upon which hundreds of Eason’s lenticular leaves will hang, evoking the changing of seasons before the viewer’s eyes as they walk around the installation.
3D Art Wall
Inspired by the artist Keith Ancog’s “Envisage” painting, Sanctum Gallery crafts a 3D rendition spanning a 3-by-6-metre wall that emulates Keith’s fluid brushstrokes, with the use of an array of fabrics, textures and layers to evoke depth and dimension. This immersive experience promises a unique encounter for viewers, deepening appreciation for spontaneity and free-spirited living where art transcends boundaries.
Straw-made Bear Sculpture
ChanBoo Jung, a Korean artist, created his signature bear sculpture with the use of straws as its main medium. With straws always scattered messily and thrown away into trash cans, he was inspired by the resemblance between straws and seeds – both might seem small and insignificant, yet tiny seeds can grow into a vibrant forest, and colourful plastic straw pieces can unite to create different shapes and symbols, like a chameleon changing its colours.
7 Young Hong Kong Artists to Watch
Each year, the Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong showcases amazing works by up-and-coming artists. Here’s a handful of Hong Kong artists whose work you can see at the event.
Apple Cheng Wing Yee
Apple’s oeuvre mostly consists of oil paintings. She finds fascination in observing urban lifestyles and landscapes, alongside enjoying animated cartoons. Her paintings play with the personas and settings of cartoon characters and explore the absurdity and emptiness of the city.
Edmond Li Suen Wai
Calligraphy teacher Edmund has taught in various HK schools and won numerous calligraphy competitions. He now serves on the Hong Kong Hard Pen Calligraphists’ Association and Hong Kong Professional Chinese Calligraphers Association. He’s also judged several calligraphy competitions.
Irene Lee See-Wing
HK born and raised, Irene specialises in screen printing and mono printing. Beyond her academic pursuits, she also enjoys making zines in her leisure time. Irene’s interest in screen printing runs deep, with its unique blend of naturalness and passivity giving her the liberty to express herself freely.
Peony Hung Po-Po
Peony’s contemporary art journey is fuelled by everyday moments and surroundings, which she translates into poetic expressions and channels her feelings through her paintings. Peony also has 10 years of experience in art and design project management.
Rylee Tsang Tsz-Wan
Rylee primarily works with ceramic artworks. She explores the tension between individuals and externals as a bystander, and conceptually repeats the contradictory process of construction and disintegration. Her contemporary art pieces have been exhibited in HART Haus, Hong Kong Art Centre and HKBU.
Scott Chan Kin-Yip
A graduate with a major in ceramics, Scott was shaped by growing up in the 1990s, including the street culture and skateboarding of the time. Inspired by daily life, he applies different materials and mediums to his works, ranging from paper to ceramics.
Wallis Chung Wing-Sze
Wallis has always been curious about the uncanny features of Hong Kong’s cityscape, exploring it with a blend of imagination and humour in recent works of contemporary art. Her pastel colour palette seeks to create a surreal yet childhood-like experience for viewers.
Family-friendly Art Experiences
There’s plenty on offer for young visitors to the Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong.
Jointly organised with Art Loop, children aged four to 12 years can enjoy educational art tours and workshops to foster their love for art. These tours, led by skilled instructors, will guide children through gallery booths and curated projects at the Fair, providing a unique opportunity to learn how to appreciate contemporary art and develop critical thinking skills. The children will also have the chance to create a mini project of their own and showcase their finished work at the fair. Sessions are available four times a day. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Elsewhere, Venture Studios will provide on-site family photo-taking services by professional photographers at their booth at the Fair. Proceeds will be donated to Mother’s Choice. There’ll also be a special Family Morning session including a promotion for families (two or more family members). A discounted ticket of $200 is available from 10am to 12 noon over the weekend of 18 and 19 May.
Tickets for the Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong
Opening Night & Affordable Art Fair Pass: $340
General Admission: $195
Concession (seniors and students): $160
Note: These prices are for online advanced sales; tickets at the door will be more expensive
To buy your tickets, head here.
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