Art Basel participants cautiously optimistic about Hong Kong show despite gloomy weather and grim economic outlook
Annual event kicks off Thursday with more than 60,000 attendees expected over the three-day run
Art Basel is to kick off in Hong Kong this Thursday amid rainy weather and economic headwinds, but some VIP guests of the art show went ahead and attended a preview yesterday, including new Oscar winner Leonardo DiCaprio.
The three-day art extravaganza featuring 239 premier galleries from 35 countries and territories was expected to draw more than 60,000 art lovers.
Organisers saw positive signs for success this year despite a slowing China economy, as both exhibitors and collectors were not cutting their budgets for the event.
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“This is not the first time we have been through this,” said Adeline Ooi, Art Basel’s art director, of economic uncertainties. “We have to be hopeful, but we’re also realistic about it.”
We have to be hopeful, but we’re also realistic about it
Ooi said tickets sales to date had been encouraging and that a decent number of VIP collectors attended the preview yesterday. “It’s a good sign,” she said.
She even expected a slight improvement in visitor numbers compared to last year, as Friday is a public holiday in Hong Kong.
The preview saw big art spenders and mainland collectors pack the exhibition room.
The mainland collector said the ongoing economic downturn in China had not affected his and other collectors’ appetite for art, adding his spending this year remained more or less the same.
