The Art Basel contemporary art fair opened in Hong Kong on Wednesday, offering a combination of physical and virtual shows as many art collectors and curators were not able to travel to the city because of COVID-19 restrictions.
The annual fair, which also has versions in Basel, Switzerland, and in Miami Beach, Florida, was cancelled in Hong Kong last year because of the pandemic. In 2019, it had attracted over 80,000 art lovers.
This year, organisers have limited the number of visitors to the fair, which runs from May 19 to 23, in compliance with government social distancing rules.
On Wednesday, hundreds of local visitors meandered through galleries while overseas collectors were shown around via FaceTime.
“It’s overwhelming and great that we are actually able to do the fair this year, despite all the difficulties and circumstances we’re dealing with,” said Art Basel’s Hong Kong director Adeline Ooi.
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