[category]
[title]
We’ve all had a month’s break from the art-filled March Madness, but if you’re starting to feel a little culture deprived again like we are, May has just the event to scratch that artistic itch. The Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong is back for its 13th edition, showcasing Hong Kong-based artists, young talents, and contemporary art works at wallet-friendly price points. Here’s a guide on what to look out for at the cultural festival.
From May 14 to 17, over 105 local and international galleries will gather at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre to present art that is well worth collecting. As always, the point of the Affordable Art Fair is to open up the often exclusive and pretentious image of art to the public. With pieces starting at just $1,000, the low entry barrier invites everyone to start curating their own art collection and discovering artists that suit their tastes.
This year, six Hong Kong-based artists will be highlighted in the Photography Feature, debuting a sector titled Pieces of Hong Kong which captures our city’s multi-layered identity from different perspectives. Experience Hong Kong through the lens of Derry Ainsworth, Jeremy Cheung, Sean Foley, Marcel Heijnen, Jay Khan, and Carlo Yuen to see our home turf in a different light. Five emerging artists have also gathered to create No-Rise?, as a way for diverse voices to coexist equally within an artistic space.
The Special Projects section presents large-scale installations, experimental works, and live performances that allow audiences to become part of the art themselves as part of five unique journeys into imagination and reflection – we have a feeling these pieces will become Hong Kong’s favoured photo spots of the week. Look out for Mirror in the City by Wesley Wong, which puts visitors in a world of rain and mirrors; Red, White, Bright and Young by Isaac Spellman, which is a specially curated café inspired by 1920s London; as well as a fluid abstract piece by local celebrity Stephy Tang. In a collaboration with the British Consulate General Hong Kong, the special Brit-ish programme also spotlights 15 talents across various disciplines from the UK, so if you have any emotional or familial resonance with Ol’ Blighty, you’ll likely enjoy these specially curated works.
It’s not just about looking at art either – the Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong will also host a range of interactive workshops and live demonstrations. This is a great chance for both adults and children to get hands-on with artistic techniques, learn directly from exhibiting artists, and walk away with personal keepsakes. Sign up for a sip and sketch session with The Ink Trail to put Hong Kong’s cityscapes or nature onto paper, see a brushstroke performance before stepping in to contribute your own calligraphy, and more.
If white space galleries seem intimidating to you, stop by the Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong from May 14 to 17 for a welcoming environment where curiosity and artistic connection is encouraged, and art ownership is more accessible than ever.
A four-day pass for the Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong that includes access to the opening night is available for $340, while general admission costs $175. There are also concessions for senior citizens and full-time students at $150, as well as a special bundle for Family Morning at $165. Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite or Ticketflap – get your advanced online tickets before May 10 as prices will increase afterwards!
Stay in the loop: Sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox
Recommended stories:
Test Kitchen to host a final four-hands dinner series before closing its doors
The highly acclaimed Matilda The Musical is playing near Hong Kong in a Shenzhen theatre
Famous Lisbon bakery Manteigaria set to open its first Hong Kong flagship