Art curator Calvin Hui talks Fine Art Asia and more
As Fine Art Asia puts the finishing touches on the line-up for its 13th edition, we sat down with art curator Calvin Hui for a chat about its development, the future of Asia's art market, and what's in store this year.
What can we expect at the fair?
A journey through an eclectic mix of museum quality art and antiques, from Ming dynasty furniture to precision crafted timepieces and contemporary art. Last year’s well-received photography debut gave us the confidence to expand the section with its own dedicated area and a series of panel discussions.
What aspects of Fine Art Asia are you drawn to the most?
I am a fan of mid-century furniture and decorative pieces. It’s interesting when a collector who comes to see huanghuali (Chinese yellow rosewood) furniture finds himself discussing silver service, or a jadeite buyer discovering the cut stones of Western jewellers. The fair’s diversity allows one to journey through time.
What do you see as the future of the Asian art market?
Hong Kong remains an integral part of the international art market. Fairs, auction houses and the city’s growing gallery presence all give us a competitive edge, and our ease of transacting and favourable tax climate benefits collectors, sellers and artists. The creative economy is thriving and we’ve continued to see growth within the collector market at our fair.
What is good art to you?
Good art is subjective, but I respect artists who develop their own unique artistic language, who have an understanding of their own cultural identity and the ability to demonstrate this through contemporary expression.
