View world-class contemporary art pieces via virtual galleries and auctions with our selection of best iPad apps for contemporary art appreciation
While local offerings of galleries seem to be growing in exponential numbers – with leading galleries such as Kwai Fung Gallery, 10 Chancery Lane, The Schoeni Gallery, Ben Brown Fine Arts, The Opera Gallery and the Gagosian Gallery among others – now Hong Kong art-lovers can also appreciate art from abroad online via their Apple iPad tablet computer.
Want to learn more about Schoeni Gallery? Read her blogs for Asia Tatler here.
See our coverage of the opening of the Gagosian Gallery and their Damien Hirst exhibition in Hong Kong here.
Through these best iPad apps for contemporary art appreciation, viewers are introduced to a myriad of benefits including making-of videos by the artist, high definition pictures of these art pieces, blogs by the artist, auction house previews, an opportunity to learn more about the artist and see special international exhibitions abroad while in the comfort of your home. We round up our top picks here.
Need a stylish cover for your iPad? See our selection of designer iPad covers here.
The Saatchi Gallery Opus HD for iPad
The Saatchi Gallery Opus app opens the book on three decades of contemporary art with a digital compilation of multiple Saatchi Opus limited edition luxury printed publications. The app presents a comprehensive history of the gallery's exhibitions and features the works of more than 150 international artists including Lucian Freud, Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons and Ron Mueck.
MoMA AB EX NY
MoMA AB EX NY lets you virtually travel to the Museum of Modern Art New York (MoMA) for a special look at its 2010-2011 exhibition "Abstract Expressionist New York." View high-resolution images and videos of selected works from the exhibition, learn about the artists and the exhibition, and take a contemporary art tour of New York City with the app's built-in multimedia map of art studios, galleries, bars and other points of interest.
See our interview with Ben Brown on Hong Kong's premier Picasso exhibition here.
Phillips de Pury & Company
Geared at contemporary art collectors, or people interested in becoming art collectors, the Phillips de Pury & Company app enables users to browse artwork from the auction house's upcoming auctions, see recent auction results, and learn how to buy and sell art at auction. The auction house deals only in contemporary art and showcases an interesting array of sculptures, photographs, paintings, design and jewels.
The Art of Naoto Nakagawa HD
The Art of Naoto Nakagawa HD brings you up close and personal with the revered contemporary artist. Nakagawa takes you on a personal, narrated tour of his New York studio and invites you to explore his body of work through detailed analysis of individual paintings -- from his explosive pop-art period to his hyper-real still lifes, landscape paintings and performance works.
Read our interview with new gallerist on the block, Edouard Malingue, here.
Cool Hunting
Popular design, culture, art and technology publication Cool Hunting has created an iPad app to highlight its diverse repertoire of online content. The app presents a hand-picked selection of articles, videos and photos that span everything from molecular gastronomy to urban design and contemporary art exhibitions in a digital magazine format. New content is added every day.
Graffiti Japan Extras
Graffiti Japan Extras takes viewers on a virtual tour of some of Japan's best street art and graffiti. The app features the work of Japan's Belx2, Kress, Suiko, and Kami plus international artists Obey Neck Face, Twist and Big Foot. The app is a companion to the book Graffiti Japan and showcases around 100 photographs that didn't make it into the publication. For art lovers living in or traveling to Japan, the app also helps you locate some of the works in the flesh.