Hong Kong’s leading Affordable Art Fair (AAF) is set to land for its ninth edition from Aug. 4-7, highlighting thousands of contemporary and modern artworks from over 60 local and international galleries and promoting local rising talents in the art space.
Showcasing art pieces from HK$1,000 to HK$100,000, the Affordable Art Fair has been successful in democratising the art market in its fun and approachable format, featuring a diverse range of galleries from Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, the U.K., Australia, and Peru this year.
Fair director Regina Zhang enters her third year in the role opening the Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong, since her appointment in June 2019. A well-respected figure in the art industry, Regina has managed a multitude of art events and exhibitions across Greater China for the past decade. Her position at the AAF seeks to raise the reach and bring on more cultural exchanges to create lasting and meaningful partnerships on an international level for the weekend exhibition.
With the opening of the Affordable Art Fair taking storm in the first week of August, The Beat Asia sat down with Regina to discuss how the art world in Hong Kong is shaping in 2022 and the promise of rising talents in the space.
What is your connection with Hong Kong and its evolving art space?
“I have always been connected to art in different ways with my background in video arts. Connecting with artists in different fields is something I really enjoy as I get to learn more about their experiences and where their inspirations come from.”
“For the last 12 years, I have found the Hong Kong art landscape very creative, and I have become more and more emotionally attached to this city. It is a place with many great opportunities for young artists to broaden their horizons and find their passion within the city.”
“Hong Kong's creative scene also has an international yet down-to-earth vibe where artists have all sorts of backgrounds and may come from different cultures and cities but in their artworks, you would feel the Hong Kong pride.”
What does your position at AAF mean for local artists, the city’s art scene, and the fair itself?
“Affordable Art Fair provides opportunities for local artists to showcase their works and offers a platform to connect them to collectors or art lovers who appreciate their work. Our "Young Talent Hong Kong" programme has given emerging artists opportunities to grow and develop their career and in turn for Affordable Art Fair to grow as well.”
“We will continue to nurture young talent and allow them to be creative and provide a fun and friendly environment to meet potential endorsements.”
What do you hope the AAF to foster and nurture in Hong Kong?
Affordable Art Fair aims to continue to nurture young talents, grow Hong Kong's love for art, and bring artists to an international level.
How do you see AAF’s position in the city’s art space?
It is very essential for the Affordable Art Fair to continue in Hong Kong, as it provides the stepping-stone for many local artists and galleries.
How do you feel about Hong Kong’s evolving art landscape?
“I believe Hong Kong's art landscape is having a very steady growth. With the opening of M+ and reopening of Hong Kong Museum of Art, more international galleries choose Hong Kong as the base in Asia. I can see there are also new galleries founded by young entrepreneurs. It is a very exciting place to be at right now.”
What are you excited about for this year's AAF?
“This year, we are having many new galleries and new artists participating in the Affordable Art Fair for the very first time. It is exciting to see how the visitors will react to these new exhibitors. We also invited artists, such as Jonathan Jay Lee, Amber Ng, Sophia Ho Tung and Yihong Hsu, to create special projects and installations especially for Affordable Art Fair.”
“All of these special projects celebrate Hong Kong and its people and memories in different mediums. On top of that, Young Talent Hong Kong, which gives 26 young art talent a space to shine, is for sure something you don't want to miss as well!”
