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Walking through the two large halls that encompass Art Basel Hong Kong 2018, we were struck by two thoughts.
The first thought: there’s a nice variety of works and genres on display. From digital art to virtual reality pieces, from video installations to black-and-white photography, from metallic sculptures to pop, the participating galleries have something for every collector.
The second thought: the stand-out pieces at this year’s event used bright colors, simple shapes, words, natural materials, and existential themes to convey hope, communicate feeling, celebrate life, and mock death and despair.
Here are some pieces from the event, which highlight ONE or MORE of those trends or ideas.
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BRIGHT COLORS
There’s plenty of pigment at this Art Basel – even many darker paintings and works contain streaks and splashes of color. Also, a number of artists are showing their strengths by hanging several of their vivid works or panels on a single wall. Interestingly, the viewer is faced with art as federation, consuming art as a stacked smorgasbord for the senses.
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From left to right: Friedrich Kunath, We are Due for a Transcendent Moment (Cosmic Cowboy), 2016, Acrylic and ink on canvas. Booth: Blum & Poe; Yoshitomo Nara, Your Puppy, 2016, FRP, Edition 2 of 3, 2AP. Booth: Blum & Poe; Lynda Benglis, THETIS, 2017, Cast pigmented polyurethane, Edition 2 of 2. Booth: Blum & Poe.
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Mark Ryden, The Veil Of Bees, 2018, oil on canvas. Booth: Paul Kasmin Gallery.
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Keiichi Tanaami, The Laughing Spider A, 2017, pigmented ink, acrylic silkscreen medium, crashed glass, glitter acrylic paint, acrylic paint on canvas. Booth: Nanzuka.
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Stanley Whitney, Untitled, 2017, monotype in watercolor on Lanaquarelle paper. Booth: Two Palms.
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Gilbert & George, Beard digest, 2016, photography. Booth: Alfonso Artiaco.
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SIMPLE SHAPES
Geometry is taking a front seat at this year’s Art Basel. This year’s top shape is most definitely the circle.
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DeWain Valentine, Circle Rose, Cast Polyester Resin. Booth: Almine Rech Gallery.
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Fabienne Verdier, Polyphonie – Palimpseste 1, 2 & 3, 2017, acrylic and mixed media on canvas. Booth: Waddington Custot.
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Chao Chung-Hsiang, Lustrous Bamboo, ink and acrylic on paper mounted on canvas. Booth: Liang Gallery.
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Alicja Kwade, Revolution (Gravitas), 2018, stainless steel, stone. Booth: König Galerie.
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NATURE & NATURAL MATERIALS
There’s still some chrome sheen and reflective sparkle hanging around the galleries, but wood, stone, and woodland scenes are taking an axe to glitz, conglomeration, and the plugged-in metro life. Even pieces featuring exposed wiring and electrical current are challenging viewers to think about technology and the role it can sometimes overplay.
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Matthew Palladino, The Shell, 2018, enamel on wood, plastic, and resin. Booth: Nanzuka.
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Masayuki Kawai, Video Feedback Configuration, Installation, 2018, variable dimension, video processors, video monitor, cables, iron frames. Booth: Mori Yu Gallery.
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Iván Navarro, Compression, 2018, a two-piece installation featuring “Flatlands” (above, hanging) and “Tuning” (inset, placed on the ground to the left of Flatlands), 2018, LED lights, drums, mirrors, one-way mirrors, electric energy, wood. Booth: Paul Kasmin Gallery.
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Liao Guohe, Hoer Building, 2017, acrylic on canvas. Booth: Boers-Li Gallery.
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David Hockney, The Yosemite Suite n°14, 2010, Prints & Multiples, iPad Drawing printed on paper. Booth: Galerie Lelong & Co.
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Los Carpinteros, Domo Hexagonal, 2016, Plywood. Booth: Fortes D’Aloia & Gabriel.
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Chant Avedissian, Formation of Squares, 2016, wood, acrylic paint. Booth: Sabrina Amrani.
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WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
A number of pieces benefited from the use of letters, words, numbers, or symbols. Here are some words that caught our eye.
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Doug Aitken, Edge, 2016, Installation. Booth: Massimo De Carlo.
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Mel Bochner, Money, 2015, Oil on velvet in two parts. Booth: Simon Lee.
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Jim Dine, Seeing thru the Stardust, The heat on the lawn (Claude), 2017, Earthenware and bronze, 10 forms of varying dimensions. Booth: Richard Gray Gallery.
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EXISTENTIAL THEMES
Searching for art with humor, thrill or purpose? Below are pieces that we found exciting, funny, spooky, or provocative.
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Our good friend Konstantin Bessmertny, Aedificium Strict Father, 2018, oil on canvas. Booth: Rossi & Rossi.
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Pablo Picasso, Homme à l’épée, July 25, 1969, Oil on board. Booth: Acquavella Galleries.
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Je Yeoran, Usquam Musquam (HK – 7, 8, 9), 2018, oil on canvas. Booth: 313 Art Project.
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Masaru Shichinohe, Recording Girl II, 2011, oil on canvas. Booth: Hive.
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Willem de Kooning, Untitled XII, 1975, oil on canvas. Booth: Lévy Gorvy. Formerly owned by Microsoft’s Paul Allen. The piece reportedly sold here for US$35 million.
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Art Basel Hong Kong 2018 is taking place at the Wan Chai Convention Centre in Hong Kong from March 29 to March 31.
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All photos by NewsWhistle
LEAD-IN IMAGE:
From left to right: Nicola Tyson, Figure with Sphinx, 2011, oil on canvas. Booth: Petzel; Mark Manders, Two Immovable Heads, 2015-16, patinated bronze, Edition of 3, 1 AP. Booth: Tanya Bonakdar Gallery; Sarah Sze, Eight Foot Fade (Cadmium Yellow), 2018, stones, level, acrylic paint. Booth: Tanya Bonakdar Gallery.
