Hong Kong eyes African art with continental exhibitions

Galleries in Hong Kong have been rather slow in showcasing African art, favouring instead artists from around Asia or celebrity artists from Europe and the US. Nonetheless, always forward-looking and on trend, the city has recently welcomed a series of events with African artists. Art Basel Hong Kong, for instance, organised its first panel talk specifically on Africa, “In (and out of) Frame: Africa in Perspective”, in its Salon section this year.

Large international galleries with outposts in Hong Kong led the way earlier this year with White Cube displaying new paintings by Michael Armitage in January and Lehmann Maupin opening a solo show by Wangechi Mutu in May. Both artists were born in Kenya and live abroad, in London and New York respectively.

This month, Lucie Chang Fine Arts has partnered with Mwimbi Fine Art Gallery to present “Bridges”, a group exhibition celebrating the unique culture and talent of Zimbabwe through the work of three emerging artists, Tafadzwa Gwetai, Anthony Bumhira and Franklyn Dzingai.