After a three-year hiatus, social life has lit up again in Hong Kong and the 2023 edition of Art Basel Hong Kong brings Champagne-fueled parties, art-inspired diners, lavish VIP experiences and world-class exhibitions to the city.
Here is our list of things to do, see and eat to live the collector life.
Set sail to Art Basel in style aboard Rosewood Hong Kong’s water limousine
As Art Basel’s official hotel partner, Rosewood Hong Kong is welcoming the fair’s discerning guests with a curated hospitality package, “An Artful Escape”. This includes luxury accommodation with jaw-dropping views of the Victoria Harbour and the Hong Kong Island’s skyline, a welcome bottle of Ruinart Champagne, credits to be used at the hotel’s restaurants and bars and access to Art Basel Hong Kong for two. What’s more, you can enjoy complimentary yacht transfer service from the hotel to Art Basel Hong Kong with more Ruinart Champagne available on board for you to raise a toast. Now, that’s what we call making an entry!
RADARLIST tips: Rosewood Hong Kong boasts an impressive contemporary art collection. Rosewood Art Ambassador is on hand to give you a tour and introduce you to pieces from acclaimed artists such as British sculptor Lynn Chadwick, Damien Hirst, Hong Kong artist Wing Chan or Chinese sculptor Wu Jiahui.
“An Artful Escape” – stay period until 25 March 2023
Meet Hong Kong’s first metahuman artist
The brainchild of Gusto Collective, Asia’s first Brandtech Group, MonoC is Hong Kong’s and one of the world’s, first metahuman artist. After her roaring debuts at Hong Kong’s Digital Art Fair in October 2022, she has been commissioned by Rosewood Hong Kong to create a digital art piece that illustrates the reawakening of the city using her signature meta-flowers approach. Rhapsody in Bloom, her surrealist digital piece is displayed at Rosewood Hong Kong Lobby, Level 2, until 26 March.
Visit auction house Phillips’ brand new Asia headquarters
As one of the world’s leading auction house for art, design, watches and more, Phillips needed an Asia headquarter to match its world-class reputation. It’s done. The auction house has recently opened the doors of its spectacular new headquarter in the WKCDA Tower in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District. A stone’s throw away from M+ and Hong Kong Palace Museum, two of the city’s world-class museums, the six-floor space offers an exhibition room, a saleroom, a café and a VIP lounge. Ahead of the 20th Century & Contemporary Art auctions on 30-31 March, art lovers and collectors are welcome to visit the exhibition space to enjoy close-up views of pieces from the likes of Yayoi Kusama, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol and more.
G/F, WKCDA Tower, West Kowloon Cultural District, No. 8 Austin Road West, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Treat your tastebuds to an art-inspired dinner
“To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art” wrote 17th-century French moralist and author François de La Rochefoucauld. With Hong Kong reputation’s as a food paradise, a collector journey to the Fragrant Harbour wouldn’t be complete without booking world-class dining experiences. During the Art Month, chefs are drawing inspiration from the works on show to plate up limited-time art-inspired menus. Highlights of this year’s Art Month’s culinary programme include modern Japanese restaurant Zuma’s ( Level 5-6 The Landmark, 15 Queen’s Road Central) special sushi platter inspired by the imagery of spring described in Chinese poem Spring Night (春宵) (available until 31 March 2023), Japanese fine dining restaurant Tirpse’s (Unit #219, K11 MUSEA, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui) sweet rendition of Banksy’s Love is in the Air and contemporary Indian restaurant Veda’s (2 Arbuthnot Road, Central) nine-course plant-based dinner in collaboration with modern artist Riya Chandiramani.
RADARLIST tips: Bo Innovation Michelin-starred restaurant by chef Alvin Leung presents a year-round aptly named “Masterpieces” menu inspired by some of the world’s most famous art masterpieces. Dishes you can enjoy include Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup Cans inspired canapes and a grilled Hokkaido scallop paying tribute to Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus.
Gaze at spectacular art installations scattered around town
If Art Basel is taking over the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, you’ll pretty much find art everywhere in Hong Kong this month so make sure to keep your eyes opened for art installations scattered around town. From JR’s GIANTS: Rising Up, a 12-metre-high artwork in Harbour City, and conceptual artists Awol Erizku’s golden inflatable artwork Gravity, bringing Ancient Egypt to Pacific Place, to Swiss artist Pilipotti Rist’s Hand Me Your Trust video work lighting up the M+ façade, the reawakening of Hong Kong is a very artsy one.