March is Hong Kong Arts Month and we cannot wait. There is a raft of events planned across the territory and we have put together a handy summary of the main festivals and performances to look out for. Get out your diaries – you do not want to miss these!
1. Art Basel
Chou Yu-Cheng, Refresh, Sacrifice, New Hygiene, Infection, Clean, Robot, Air, Housekeeping, www.ayibang.com, Cigarette, Dyson, Modern People, 2017
Courtesy of Chou Yu-Cheng, Edouard Malingue Gallery, Art Basel. Photo: Zhang Hong.
Returning to Hong Kong for the sixth time, Art Basel leads the way when it comes to art fairs. Whether you consider yourself a serious investor or an interested observer, you’ll delight in the range and quality of the art on display. We recommend you take one of the excellent guided tours to get the most out of your visit. There is also a clutch of shops, restaurants, bookstores and even a Junior Hub to ensure young talent is nurtured and encouraged. While the first two days of the event are reserved for invited guests only, members of the public are welcome to attend from Thursday 29th March until Saturday 31st March.
https://www.artbasel.com/hong-kong
Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, 1 Harbour Road, Wan Chai
2. Art Central
Art Central returns for the fourth time to Central Harbourfront as it plays host to over a hundred galleries. The diverse offering reminds us just how much home-grown talent there is, both in Hong Kong and the wider Asia Pacific area, with around three-quarters of those participating coming from the region. The programme is packed with engaging panel discussions, exhibitions, captivating installations and performance art. Once again Art Central is a must for any art aficionado. It runs from Tuesday 27th March until Sunday 1st April.
http://artcentralhongkong.com/
Central Harbourfront Event Space
3. Temple Street Night Foodie Tour
Though we are of course modest when it comes to blowing our own trumpet, we are too excited to pass up this opportunity to announce the launch of our newest foodie tour. This time we are focusing on Temple Street Night Market. We promise to take your taste buds on the outing of a lifetime, tempting you with curry fish balls and made to order egg puffs and building to a food crescendo with a scrumptious seafood dinner. We will give you an insight into herbal teas and reveal the secret of what makes the perfect sweet and sour sauce. If you prefer to venture out after dark when the city comes out to play, this is the tour for you. The tour launches on Thursday 8th March and will run on Mondays and Thursdays beginning at 6:15 pm.
https://www.hongkongfoodietours.com/tours/temple-street-night-foodie-tour/
Temple Street Night Market, Kowloon
4. Asia Contemporary Art Show
Photo Credit: Asia Contemporary Art
More intimate than Art Basel or Art Central, this fair occupies several floors of the Conrad hotel. Don’t miss the work of Chae Soung-Sook, a talented South Korean whose fluid depictions using the medium of wool veil her exceptional paintings adding an almost mystical quality. In contrast, Taiwan’s Chuang Teng Shiang uses metals such as stainless steel in his work. This award-winning artist creates his unique pieces using a mix of techniques and the end result is stunning in its beauty. If you are looking to support home-grown talent, then check out To Lap Sing whose work transcends art and to feature in fashion, furniture, interiors and even packaging design. Catch them between Friday 23rd March and Monday 26th March.
http://www.asiacontemporaryart.com/shows/main/2018_Art_Shows/SPRING_CONRAD/en/
Conrad Hong Kong, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Hong Kong
5. 46th Hong Kong Arts Festival
The 46th Hong Kong Arts Festival kicked off on Friday 23rd February bringing outstanding productions that will captivate fans of opera, dance, music and theatre. There is still plenty of time to catch much of its programme – it runs until Saturday 24th March. Talented Japanese choreographer Saburo Teshigawara will reimagine Richard Wagner’s opera Tristan and Isolde which looks set to be one of the festival’s highlights. The acclaimed theatre adaptation of Mark Haddon’s novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time also looks set to wow audiences. Heartrending, comedic and clever, the cast delight, but it is the extraordinary set that will blow your mind and keep you talking about what you’ve seen long into the night.
https://www.hk.artsfestival.org/en/
Venues vary, check listings for details
6. Taste Hong Kong
Photo Credit: Taste Hong Kong Festival
Foodies will be delighted to learn that Taste Hong Kong returns for 2018, running from Thursday 22nd March until Sunday 25th March. International visitors this year include London’s Bubbledogs restaurant with its unusual but perennially popular pairing of hot dogs and champagne, plus for those with a sweet tooth, Black Star Pastry patisserie from Sydney is set to make an appearance. Local eateries Duddells, Little Bao and Caprice are also going to be there with your favorite, mouth-watering dishes. Create your dream tasting menu, browse the Gourmet Market and watch live cookery demonstrations hosted by some of the world’s top chefs. With masterclasses, wine tastings, live music and of course plenty of shopping opportunities, this is one event you will not want to miss.
https://hongkong.tastefestivals.com/
Central Harbourfront Event Space
7. Sónar Hong Kong 2018
Photo Credit: Sonar Hong Kong
Music lovers save the date: Saturday 17th March should be reserved for Sonar Hong Kong. Launched in Barcelona back in the Nineties, 2018 is the Hong Kong debut of this mix of music, creativity and technology. A wealth of electronic artists from old hands to the most exciting newcomers will take the stage to entertain and engage their Asian audience. Live acts, DJs and experimental performances make this the hottest ticket in town.
Science Park, Hong Kong
8. 42nd Hong Kong International Film Festival
Photo Credit: Hong Kong International Film Festival
Cannes and Sundance can wait: March is all about the Hong Kong International Film Festival. Over the past four decades, cinemagoers have been treated to some of the most entertaining, challenging and captivating movies of the year and 2018 looks set to be no exception. HKIFF42 opens on Monday 19th March with Omotenashi, the heart-warming tale of a Kyoto ryokan acquired by the innkeeper’s Taiwanese former lover. Bringing the festival to a close on Thursday 5th April is a showing of What a Wonderful Family 3: My Wife, My Life, the latest instalment of the popular Japanese comedy series.
Venues vary, check listings for details
So there you have it – your calendar for Hong Kong Arts Month will be one to remember with this eclectic and enticing range of events celebrating the world of creative arts and food. Where will you begin?