Art in Hong Kong is a fascinating analysis of the history, current status and possible future of Hong Kong as an international art hub, written by a local journalist who has reported on the city’s cultural landscape for many years. Enid Tsui presents a balanced and insightful picture of recent changes in the city which was once the poster-child of artistic freedom in Asia as well as the undisputed leader of the regions booming contemporary-art market. Some of Hong Kongs traditional advantages now look precarious following new laws imposed by China curbing freedom of expression and the citys long period of isolation during the Covid-19 pandemic. Yet despite the exodus of talent from Hong Kong and growing uncertainties over the red lines of censorship, there are more world-class art institutions in the city than ever before and the market has proved resilient, with international auction houses and galleries continuing to expand their presence there.
This book lifts the lid on a diverse art scene in a city of fascinating contradictions: a former British colony where artists have long been inspired by the interplay between east and west, and where the new M+ museum and other venues have to tread a tightrope between celebrating a distinct and vibrant culture based on different influences and abiding by the new national security regime.
Enid Tsui is Arts Editor of the South China Morning Post and oversees the newspapers visual and performing-arts coverage. Originally a financial journalist, she began her coverage of the art market when she was the Financial Timess Hong Kong correspondent. She has a masters degree in Art History and has published research on the late Thai artist Tang Chang.
Foreword; Introduction: What is Hong Kong?; 1 Art in Hong Kong; 2 ‘Cultural Desert’ No More; 3 Art in a Time of Crisis; 4 M+: Hong Kong’s Global Museum; 5 The New Hong Kong; Notes; Further Reading; Index
‘Enid Tsui has written a remarkable book on Hong Kong art that interweaves the social and environmental context of the times. A must-read for art historians, visitors to Hong Kong and all those interested in the unique artistic forces that have shaped contemporary art in the city.’ – Dr Melissa Karmen Lee, Chief Executive Officer at the Chinese Canadian Museum in Vancouver and part of the founding team of Tai Kwun Centre for Heritage and Art in Hong Kong, 2016-19
‘Enid Tsui provides an invaluable analysis of Hong Kong’s mercurial development alongside the recent changes in its art. From the beginning, politics and culture have been interlinked and Tsui deftly traces how the efforts of artists, politicians and culturati have created the tense, dynamic excitement of its art world today.’ – David Elliott, curator and writer
This is a nuanced interrogation of Hong Kongs evolving art scene. Enid Tsui dismantles the “cultural desert” myth with a sharp, incisive analysis of its hybrid identity and geopolitical shifts – essential reading for those seeking deeper insights into the citys artistic transformation.’ – Xiaowen Zhu, Director of esea contemporary, Manchester, and British Council Arts and Creative Economy Advisor
