HIGH LIVING

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collecting photography can be a great invest- ment, as shown by the sale of Andreas Gursky’s 2 “Rhein II”, at a whopping $4.3 million dollars in 2011.

At Art Basel Hong Kong, my favourite artwork was probably ’ “Bluebird Planter” 5 6 (2010-2016), a nearly 3-metre long bird made out of mirror-polished stainless steel with real floral details. Showcased at the David Zwirner seed, from which the central nervous system world, attracts more visitors each year, and booth, the ‘little’ bird was in good company extends to the rest of the body. even the biggest galleries clear their calendars amongst three sculptures from Koons’ “Gaz- to attend the event. The success of Art Basel ing Ball” series and his “Swan” (Inflatable) Both Gormley and also partici- Hong Kong also has far-reaching effects, be- 1 3 (2011-2015). The gallery had not only brought pated in the Harbour Arts Sculpture project. It cause it contributes to spreading awareness Koons’ artworks to the fair, but also the artist is the first international sculpture park in Hong and knowledge about Asian art, thus increas- himself who was at the booth greeting visi- Kong, curated by Mori Art Museum director, ing its street credibility in the West. tors in his calm and composed manner. The Fumio Nanjo, and ar- king of pop art who had just flown in from his tistic director, Tim Marlow. Emin presented show at the Gagosian in Los Angeles, is argu- a new bronze sculpture “A Moment With- ably the most recognisable artist in the world, out You” (2017), comprised of five cast birds 1. Jeff Koons, Bluebird Planter , 2010-2016 © Jeff Koons A COLLECTOR’S figuring 54th on ArtReview magazine’s Power placed on high poles, while Gormley showed Bluebird Planter , 2010-2016, Courtesy David Zwirner. 100 list. He is also known as the king of auc- his cast-iron sculpture “DAZE VI” (2016). 2. DAZE VI, 2016 timate pictures of friendship and human con- tions, since his “Balloon Dog” (Orange) sold at Cast iron, 178,2 x 35,5 x 43,5 cm tact with the world viewed from a larger scale. a New York auction for US$58,400,000 in 2013, We still tend to think that Asian art is more af- Installation view, Harbour Arts Sculpture Park 2018, Journey causing a global sensation. Attending the Art Central and Western District Promenade and Wan Chai, Tillmans’ exhibitions have sometimes been fordable than Western art, but it is catching Hong Kong, 2018, Courtesy of Harbour Arts Sculpture DEBORAH ISKANDAR VISITS criticised for being too eclectic due to the pre- Basel Hong Kong since its inception, Zwirner up fast. At Art Basel Hong Kong, the highest Park, Photography by William Furniss. sentation of unrelated subject matters such as has invited other big names to join him at the selling artwork from a Western artist was from 3. Jeff Koons, Swan (Inflatable), 2011-2015 © Jeff Koons, ART BASEL HONG KONG portraits together with abstract images, placed fair in previous years, including Luc Tuymans Willem de Kooning, sold at Lévy Gorvy Gal- Swan (Inflatable), 2011-2015. Courtesy David Zwirner. next to random landscapes and a still life here in 2017, Michaël Borremans in 2016 and Neo lery for $35,000,000. On the Asian front, Zao 4. ROOTING THE SYNAPSE, 2018, ROOTING THE and there. However, his approach can be best Rauch in 2015. Wou-Ki had important works prominently dis- SYNAPSE, 2018, Installation view, , Hong Kong, 2018. summarised with the title of his 2003 show: “If played at Tina Keng’s gallery, where the most fter visiting countless art fairs and seven art galleries and one auction . All One Thing Matters, Everything Matters”. With two spaces in London and one in Hong expensive sold for approximately $24,000,000. Photograph by Kitman Lee shows, I firmly believe that Art Basel the details and facilities have been carefully Kong, White Cube gallery also had some siz- 5. FEEL 2018 Carbon and casein on paper, photo Dawn AHong Kong is proving to be one of the and thoughtfully designed, as there is even After closely following the art business for over zling names on their artist list, presenting In my opinion, Art Basel Hong Kong is now Blackman. highlights of the art tour in Asia. This year was a gondola system for lifting large and heavy 20 years, I have noticed that photography as an works by Georg Baselitz, Tracey Emin, Theast- competing on the same level as the vener- 6. , CLC 004 , 2017 © Wolfgang no exception, with an increasing number of crates. art form has slowly earned the respect of the er Gates, Wang Gongxin, Antony Gormley, able Art Basel in Switzerland. It has certainly Tillmans Courtesy David Zwirner, New York/HongKong, Galerie Buchholz, Berlin/Cologne, and Maureen Paley, artists joining in the festivities, including some international art community. With the rise of , Minjung Kim, Zhou Li, Julie cemented its position in the international art London. prominent names from the Western art scene The David Zwirner gallery featured Wolfgang new media art, collecting photography has Mehretu, Seung-taek Lee, Raqib Shaw and such as Jeff Koons, Antony Gormley, Tracey Tillmans’ book launch and solo show, which gained in popularity and collectors are shift- many more. I was especially interested in the Emin and Wolfgang Tillmans drawing in the also happened to be his first exhibition in ing their focus from traditional forms of art works of Antony Gormley, who is very much in crowds. Hong Kong. Faithful to the German artist’s such as painting to video, photography and demand right now with his iconic sculptures. Deborah Iskandar is Principal of ISA Advisory, which advises clients on buying and selling art, and previous shows in the past year at Modern even sound art. It seems that photography is Coinciding with the fair, White Cube Hong building collections. An expert on Indonesian and international art, she has more than 20 years of Both Koons and Tillmans are represented by in London, the Fondation Beyeler in Basel and often more accessible than fine art painting Kong opened Gormley’s solo show “Rooting experience in Southeast Asia, heading both Sotheby’s and Christie’s Indonesia during her career David Zwirner, who recently opened a new the Kunstverien in Hamburg, this one also pre- for instance, because it conveys a more direct the Synapse”, featuring works from the art- before establishing ISA Art Advisory in 2013. She is also the Founder of Indonesian Luxury, the definitive online resource for Indonesians looking to acquire, build and style their luxury homes. space in the H Queen’s building in Hong Kong sented a broad selection of works which con- message which can be easier to relate to. Set- ist’s “Rooter” series realised in the past two ISA Art Advisory – a purpose-built high rise for galleries, now nect to the surroundings, but at the same time ting the hyped photographers aside, the prices years. In this series, the iron sculptures apply Jl. Wijaya Timur Raya No.12 a plant-like branching system to map the hu- considered as the new epicentre for the city’s exist in a self-contained environment. Taking can still be relatively affordable compared to Jakarta 12170 Indonesia art market. The building boasts 24 floors and over the four exhibition spaces of the gallery, fine art paintings, therefore the decision to man body. This idea is strongly inspired by tel: +6221 723 3905 e-mail: [email protected] currently 11 floors have been converted for the show examined the contrast between in- buy may require less planning. Surprisingly, Goethe, who compares the human brain to a

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