Art Basel Hong Kong Returning With New Hybrid Format
Here s What Art Basel Hong Kong s New Hybrid Format Actually Means
Highsnobiety / Stanely Cheng
This May, Art Basel Hong Kong is scheduled to return to an in-person fair for the first time since the pandemic began. Galleries from across the world have officially been confirmed to participate in the 2021 showcase, but not all of them will actually make a physical appearance.
After it was canceled last year due to the coronavirus, one of the starkest differences between the pre-pandemic iterations and the 2021 return is the number of participating galleries. Art Basel Hong Kong is down from 242 in 2019 to 104 this year – a decrease of more than half. However, the fair hopes to make up for this in variety with a new scale hybrid format, which will see both physical and digital mediums throughout the event. 56 galleries have committed to in-person booths at the fair, while the rest will participate remotely through satelli
UPDATE: this article was updated on 28 January to reflect the postponement of Gallery Weekend Beijing 2021 from March to 23 April to 2 May Singapore’s borders are open only to residents and permit holders, subject to quarantine Lauryn Ishak/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Mass distribution of Covid-19 vaccines has begun around Asia, but with restricted borders and strict quarantine regimes for travellers still the norm, the resumption of art fairs this spring is being thrown into doubt.
At the time of writing, a few events planned to forge ahead, such as Singapore art week and the third edition of S.E.A. Focus fair (until 31 January). But Art Fair Philippines, usually held in February, has been postponed as a “mainly digital platform”, says its co-founder Trickie Lopa. Then, all eyes are on Art Basel in Hong Kong (ABHK), which has moved its 2021 fair from March to 21 to 23 May. But that is still contingent upon resumption of some international travel to the c