Asia One Art HK Section: Asian Solo Presentations Explained
Asia One was a curated sector of ART HK devoted to solo presentations by Asian artists and the galleries that represent them. It aimed to give regional galleries a concentrated platform inside the fair. Curated by proposal rather than geography, it ran in ART HK's later editions before Art Basel took over the fair in 2013.
What Was the Asia One Section?
Asia One was the curated Hong Kong art fair section of ART HK, the city's international fair. It was reserved for solo presentations by artists of Asian origin and their representing galleries. It appeared in the fair's later editions, before Art Basel took over in 2013. The name also belongs to a video work by Cao Fei, but Asia One at ART HK refers to the fair sector, not that piece.
This format concentrated attention on one artist per booth rather than a group display, giving visitors a clearer view of each gallery's program. For the city's wider visual landscape, see hidden art corners in Hong Kong.
Curatorial Aim and Selection Criteria
Asia One's curatorial aim was to give Asian galleries and artists a concentrated platform rather than a token country-by-country appearance. The selection worked by proposal. Galleries put forward a single artist, and curators chose booths on the strength of that proposal rather than on a geographic quota. This approach let small and mid-size galleries from different Asian markets compete for attention on the same terms. That distinction set Asia One apart from the fair's main gallery presentation. Culture360, an Asia-Europe Foundation platform, tracks how regional galleries and artists move through international circuits such as ART HK. For background on why this regional focus matters, see why Asia matters in the art industry.
A Short Timeline: ART HK to Art Basel
The fair that hosted Asia One changed ownership and name in a short period. According to Art Basel's fair history, ART HK launched in 2008. MCH Group acquired a majority stake in 2011. The first Art Basel Hong Kong edition opened in 2013 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Asia One belonged to the final phase of the earlier fair.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2008 | ART HK, the Hong Kong International Art Fair, launched. |
| 2011 | MCH Group acquired a majority stake in ART HK. |
| 2013 | The first Art Basel Hong Kong took over the event at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. |
After the transition, the fair's structure changed. Asia One's solo-presentation approach did not continue as a separate section under the Art Basel brand. For comparison with the fair's later scale, see Art Basel in Hong Kong 2023.
Asia One vs the Fair's General Section
Asia One looked different from the fair's main section. The general section mixed galleries from multiple regions and booth formats, while Asia One used a stricter focus on one artist per gallery. Three areas show the contrast.
| Feature | Asia One | General section |
|---|---|---|
| Booth focus | Solo presentations by Asian artists | Mixed gallery and booth formats |
| Selection basis | Curatorial proposal, submitted per artist | Geographic and commercial mix of exhibitors |
| Scope | Artists of Asian origin and their representing galleries | Galleries from Asia and elsewhere |
The comparison helps explain why collectors and visitors treated Asia One as a distinct discovery area. It also shows how the fair gave regional galleries a clearer identity inside a larger event. That tighter format made it easier to follow a single artist's practice across a booth. For more on how the scene has evolved, see Hong Kong's current art scene.
How to Check Asia One Exhibitor Records
The original Asia One ART HK exhibitors list is not available online today. To check which galleries and artists appeared, work with two public records.
- Start with the Art Basel press archive, which holds material from the fair's transition period.
- Use ASEF culture360 for broader context on Asian galleries and their international fair appearances.
If an exact list does not surface, treat any circulating gallery names as unofficial unless they appear in one of those public records. The archives are partial, but they remain the most reliable way to verify past participants.
FAQ
What was Asia One at ART HK?
A curated sector of solo presentations by Asian artists during ART HK's later editions.
When did ART HK become Art Basel Hong Kong?
MCH Group acquired a majority of ART HK in 2011; the first Art Basel Hong Kong took place in 2013.
What is the difference between Asia One and the general gallery section?
Asia One focused on curated solo presentations by Asian artists; the general section mixed galleries and booth formats.
What are some famous examples of art from Asia?
Frequently cited names include Yayoi Kusama, Nam June Paik and Ai Weiwei; Asia One highlighted Asian artists at the fair.
What is Asia Society Hong Kong?
An independent cultural center in Admiralty, unrelated to the Asia One section of ART HK, though both appear in results for this query.
Sources
- Art Basel Hong Kong
- ASEF culture360
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