Thomas Krens of New York’s Guggenheim Museum finds Hong Kong “a great and fascinating city”. Photo credit: David Heald

He commented that the most exciting artwork in the world is coming out of Asia, with Hong Kong the perfect trading platform.

Mr Krens was speaking after one of his frequent visits to Hong Kong, which is increasing in profile as an international arts trading centre. This trend is reinforced by recent major art auctions held by Sotheby's and Christie's in Hong Kong, where both houses recorded record results.  (Record prices set at Asia's premier art market).

"Hong Kong is a world-class city, with a deep and vibrant economy, a sophisticated and culturally diverse citizenry, and an atmosphere of energy and opportunity," Mr Krens said. "Centrally located in Asia, it has the unique position and potential to become a major cultural hub. Already Hong Kong hosts several high-level museums, a few internationally known galleries, and many world-class art collections and collectors. Interest in and support for arts and culture seems to be steadily increasing in both the private and public sector. All these are good signs for the arts in Hong Kong.

World-class attributes

"A world-class cultural centre requires many kinds of art activity and art activists, including museums, not-for-profit art spaces and organisations, commercial galleries, auctions, designers, film makers, architects, educators, critics, writers, visual artists, performing artists, and philanthropists. Hong Kong has all these. Surely, Hong Kong's position as a dynamic art centre will only increase over time."

With the eyes of the international art world focused on Asia, Hong Kong is also the ideal platform to launch exciting new artists from around the region, particularly the Chinese mainland. Political change and rapid economic growth continue to compete with and complement deep and distinct local cultural histories.  As a result, Mr Krens said "the artistic activity in the region is both diverse and compelling".

"Due to its unique location in China and on the edge of Southeast Asia, Hong Kong is unusually well positioned to provide a platform for emerging artists from all over the region. Hong Kong also has a thriving annual arts festival, which attracts top-level performing and multi-media artists from all over the world. Providing opportunities for cross-cultural interchange has been one of Hong Kong's longstanding strengths.

Essential support network

"Hong Kong is well placed to be a world-class cultural hub for many reasons. Hong Kong is at a geographic crossroads, inside China, but close to the culturally diverse countries of Southeast Asia. It has been traditionally open to the West and has a broad bilingual population, which is an enormous asset in this increasingly global world.  Hong Kong also has a deep and vibrant economy, a high-level educational infrastructure, an energetic and free press, and an existing network of museums, art galleries, and not-for-profit arts organisations. These factors, combined with a longstanding appreciation for innovation and change, provide the essential support for a vigorous cultural and creative centre."

Business aside, Mr Krens added that he always looks forward to its frequent visits to Hong Kong.

"Hong Kong is a great and fascinating city. The harbour views are unparalleled anywhere in the world, and the skyline is magnificent. In many ways, Hong Kong embodies many of the ideals of Modernism that developed during the course of the 20th century."

Related link
Guggenheim Museum