Hong Kong, 7 October 2011 ¡V Fine Art Asia 2011, Asia¡¦s leading international art and antiques fair, was held from 3 to 7 October in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. This year the fair presented its strongest ever international line-up, with over 100 renowned, selected dealers from Asia, Europe and the USA.
Fine Art Asia is the only fair in Asia to showcase Art and Antiques. The 7th edition of the fair saw greater participation by leading international galleries and the highest level of quality of exhibits ever seen under one roof Hong Kong, or anywhere in Asia. The fair showcased over 5,000 works of art, was attended by 19,800 visitors from all over the world and achieved robust sales of HK$375 million (US$48.2 million), 17% higher than last year.
As usual, Fine Art Asia 2011 was staged at the peak of the important art season in October in Hong Kong and coincided with Sotheby¡¦s auctions in the same venue. The fair attracted a sophisticated and appreciative audience of major dealers, collectors, curators, connoisseurs and art enthusiasts from all over the world.
On display were Asian and Western Antiques and Art, from ancient Chinese and Himalayan bronzes, Chinese ceramics and works of art, furniture, textiles and jades, to fine jewellery made for royalty and Hollywood stars, antique silver and exceptional Old Masters, Impressionist, Modern and Contemporary paintings and sculpture.
Fine Art Asia 2011 offered an expanded range of collecting categories, reflecting the growing appreciation of both Oriental and Western fine art among Asian collectors, and the emergence of an ever stronger Asian market which is the most significant current trend in the global art world.
In the Antiques section, Christian Deydier from Paris offered the Frank Arts Collection of Ancient Chinese Bronzes and sold 90% of the pieces on the opening night. Classical Chinese furniture dealers Nicholas Grindley, London, and MD Flacks, New York, almost sold out, while Ever Arts, Hong Kong, sold its major pieces. New exhibitor Koopman Rare Art, London, one of the world¡¦s leading dealers in antique Western silver, reported good sales and tremendous interest. Another new exhibitor, Mallett, London sold several major pieces, as their presentation in Hong Kong speeded up the decision of buyers.
In the Modern Art section, Gladwell & Company¡¦s booth was permanently crowded with people viewing the display of paintings by Monet, Renoir and Picasso among others; while a combination of important Impressionist and Chinese 20th century works at Waterhouse & Dodd, London, proved a major draw for visitors to the fair; as did the masterpieces by Rodin, Degas and Zadkine at Robert Bowman Gallery, London. Meanwhile few could miss the iconic jewellery pieces made for royalty and Hollywood stars at Siegelson, New York; as well as at Lucas Rarities, London; Palais Royal Paris, Paris; and Veronique Bamps, Monaco. Meanwhile, Hong Kong jeweller and designer Kai-Yin Lo welcomed non-stop visitors to her booth.
London dealer Robert Kleiner, specializing in Chinese snuff bottles and works of art, said, ¡§¡§This is a wonderful fair, beautifully organized, and we have done very good business.We have made lots of new clients and also welcomed many return clients from last year. This year we have seen more private clients from Mainland China.¡¨
New York dealer Carlton Rochell commented: ¡§Fine Art Asia 2011 has clearly become a mature international fair with top international dealer participation from around the world. The quality of the art displayed is at the highest levels. I think Fine Art Asia has become one of the fairs on the international art calendar.¡¨
Henry Howard-Sneyd, Vice-President, Sotheby¡¦s New York, said, ¡§I continue to be impressed by the quality of Fine Art Asia and by the work that Andy Hei and his team do to create a sophisticated and elegant surrounding. The careful selection of high quality dealers grows ever wider and I really feel that this time, the fair has taken another step up in quality and in scope.¡¨
Andy Hei, founder and director of the fair, said: ¡§We are delighted that Fine Art Asia 2011 attracted a record number of leading international galleries from all over the world. The Asian art market is buoyant and the buying power of collectors, particularly from Mainland China, is very strong, as the robust sales figures show.
¡§Hong Kong is the centre of the art market in Asia and plays an increasingly important role in the global art market. Fine Art Asia provides the perfect platform for international galleries to do business with Asian and especially Mainland Chinese collectors.
¡§Western galleries exhibiting in the fair for the first time had a chance to build up connections with new potential buyers from Hong Kong and China; as a result, further sales are expected.
¡§At the moment, only a very small percentage of China¡¦s population is interested in buying art, but the potential for the future is huge, especially as the new middle class in China becomes increasingly interested in buying art across a wide range of categories.¡¨
An Academic Programme of lectures and seminars by leading art experts from Hong Kong and overseas was held during the fair. Speakers included Jay Xu, Director of the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco and his colleagues Dr Joseph Chang and Dr Michael Knight.
About the Fair Organizer
Art & Antique International Fair Ltd (AAIF) was founded in 2006 by well-known antique Chinese furniture dealer Andy Hei to provide a vibrant new platform in the Hong Kong for the art world in Asia and worldwide. The company is the pioneer of art fairs in Hong Kong: its inaugural fair in 2006 was the first international art fair in Hong Kong in more than a decade.
Fine Art Asia 2011 is the 7th edition of the fair, which has now become a key annual fixture in the international art calendar. The fair aspires to the same level of excellence as TEFAF Maastricht, the world¡¦s most famous fair devoted to Art and Antiques.
www.fineartasia.com
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