‘Hong Kong Super March’: 20 must-see art shows
The city goes into overdrive this time of the year. Here’s what to catch if you’re flying in
[SINGAPORE] IN MARCH every year, Hong Kong’s art scene kicks into high gear with hundreds of buzzy events. Seizing the opportunity, city officials are now branding the month “Hong Kong Super March” to highlight the city’s cultural might, bolster tourism, and showcase its role as a premier destination for art and creativity.
We pick the 20 things you should definitely catch if you’re flying in this March:
Ho Tzu Nyen and HK cinema
Singapore’s most acclaimed artist Ho Tzu Nyen pays tribute to the golden age of Hong Kong cinema with an artificial intelligence-generated animation titled Night Charades. Projected onto the facade of the M+ museum nightly from Mar 22 to Jun 29, the work features realistic avatars playing roles immortalised by Leslie Cheung, Chow Yun-fat, Maggie Cheung, Anita Mui and others. The work is created in collaboration with Art Basel with support from UBS.
5,000 years of Chinese food
Singaporean foodies wouldn’t want to miss Hong Kong Palace Museum’s new exhibition on Chinese food culture spanning 5,000 years. The showcase titled Moveable Feast include rare artefacts, historical culinary tools, and interactive exhibits tracing the evolution of Chinese gastronomy from ancient imperial feasts to modern-day delicacies.
Art Basel Hong Kong
The most stunning art fair in Asia returns to the HK Convention And Exhibition Centre from Mar 28 to 30, featuring 240 international galleries from 42 countries. Lest we forget, Art Basel HK is the reason why the city’s March calendar is packed to the gills with art events – from major international art figures and compelling panel discussions to star-studded after-parties and vibrant satellite shows.
Picasso’s masterpiece… in sand
One of the most astonishing artworks of the 20th century is Pablo Picasso’s massive anti-war painting Guernica. Reflecting on these troubled times, artist Lee Mingwei has recreated the majestic painting in sand – a metaphor of impermanence, fragility, and the cyclical nature of destruction and renewal. The painting will eventually be destroyed, mirroring the transient nature of suffering, memory, and history itself. Lee’s work is shown as part of M+ Museum’s current showcase of Picasso paintings.
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Cezanne and Renoir
Hong Kong Museum of Art is exhibiting the city’s first major showcase of French Impressionist giants Paul Cezanne and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. With 52 works selected from the Musee de l’Orangerie and the Musee d’Orsay, the show features gems such as Renoir’s painting of his own son Jean (who would grow up to become the eminent filmmaker, Jean Renoir), and Cezanne’s vivid still-lifes and landscapes.
A whole show on ASMR
Yes, you read that right. That tingling sensation known as “autonomous sensory meridian response” (or ASMR) has become so popular among Gen Z, Airside’s Gallery 33 is devoting an exhibition to it. The works explore the intersection of sound, sensation, and visual aesthetics, immersing visitors in a multisensory experience designed to evoke that signature ASMR tingle. Its cheeky title? Weird Sensation Feels Good: The World of ASMR.
Singapore artists in auctions
It’s the season when all the major auction houses – Christie’s, Sotheby’s, Phillips and Bonhams – put up their best lots on the block, from blue-chip artworks to rare jewels and luxury timepieces. Among the most beautiful are two exceptional Singaporean works on offer at Bonhams: Chua Ek Kay’s A Summer Awakening (2002, estimate: HK$300,000-HK$500,000) exemplifies his mastery of blending traditional Chinese ink with Western techniques, and Cheong Soo Pieng’s Untitled (1960; estimate: HK$120,000-HK$180,000), features his characteristic abstract reimagining of South-east Asian village life. See the works in the flesh at Bonhams’ headquarters in Six Pacific Place.
Lynne Drexler at White Cube HK
For decades, American painter Lynne Drexler (1928-1999) was overlooked, her contributions to modern art eclipsed by her male contemporaries. Now, her work is finally receiving the attention it deserves. White Cube Hong Kong is presenting her first exhibition in Asia, featuring never-before-seen paintings from a pivotal period in the 1970s. Drexler’s market has skyrocketed in recent years, fetching twice to three times the estimate.
Philip Colbert at K11 Musea
Don’t like serious art? Looking for fun street art instead? Then head on down to the K11 Musea art-themed shopping mall, where neo-pop art superstar Philip Colbert is displaying a 7.5-metre-high steel sculpture of his iconic Lobster character on the promenade. Colbert is also exhibiting a selection of sculptures and digital works, alongside a temporary kiosk on the promenade selling exclusive collectibles.
Zaha Hadid’s first sculpture park
The Henderson, a distinctive skyscraper designed by Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA), is unveiling an art garden this month – the first such ZHA sculpture park in Asia. The Henderson building itself was inspired by the bauhinia plant, and its botanical design extends to this public space, displaying large artworks by artists such as Ned Kahn, Philipp Frank, and Stickyline x Leanna.
Here are 10 more shows you shouldn’t miss:
Para Site: Inspired by Wong Kar Wai’s classic film Happy Together, two dozen artists explore the notions of intimacy, dualism and the East-West binary.
Artists’ Night at Tai Kwun: A thrilling programme of exhibitions, experimental performances, music and more on Mar 28.
Sasaoka Yuriko at PHD Group: We can’t say enough about this Japanese video artist who recreates myths and fables using puppetry.
Blindspot Gallery: The excellent Chen Wei interrogates urban spaces through staged photography.
CHAT (Centre for Heritage, Arts and Textile): Dedicated to textile art, its show features terrific artists such as Ari Bayuaji, Gunes Terkol and Yen Sum Yim.
Monsters at Pacific Place: Turner Prize-nominated artist Monster Chetwynd presents three giant sculptures of lanternflies, alongside scheduled performances.
Hong Kong Heritage Museum: A fantastic showcase of award-winning posters from around the world.
Art Central: The satellite fair features young galleries, emerging artists and fresh perspectives.
HKwalls street art festival: Murals, site-specific interventions, digital screen takeovers, and much more.
Sarah Sze at Gagosian Hong Kong: It’s the first solo outing in Asia by the superstar artist. Need we say more?
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