How New World heir Adrian Cheng combines his passion for art with entrepreneurship
In the first in a series on influential figures in Hong Kong's cultural scene, businessman and arts patron Adrian Cheng tells Enid Tsui how he juggles his many roles
Art Basel has returned, and the local art community has emerged from hibernation to launch a whirlwind of activity: commercial galleries, non-profit art spaces and art market publications are flagging up new projects, eager to capture the attention of the tens of thousands who visit the Hong Kong edition of the world's biggest modern and contemporary art fair.
In the middle of all of this is Adrian Cheng Chi-kong. The 35-year-old scion of one of Hong Kong's wealthiest families is both a sought-after patron as well as an eager promoter of his own art shows. And he is everywhere. Although he's just been made executive vice-chairman of New World Development - he is now the number two in a company that earned HK$5.9 billion in the past six months, according to the latest financial results - Cheng has found time to be involved in six exhibitions.during Art Basel week.
He has help, of course. "Twenty", the solo exhibition of mischievous Chinese artist Xu Zhen that opens at PMQ today is co-presented with David Chau, the Shanghai-based art collector and curator. "Inside China - L'Intérieur du Géant", which opens at the K11 Art Foundation Pop-up Space in Sheung Wan's Cosco Tower on Wednesday, is a collaboration with Palais de Tokyo in Paris.
Nonetheless, the grandson of Cheng Yu-tung, the 71st richest person on the planet with a net worth of about US$14 billion according to Forbes, has proven himself to be a self-made man in the global art world despite having an onerous day job.
He says his art-related work only takes place after office hours or at weekends.
"Every Sunday, for four hours, we talk about strategies for the Art Foundation because I only have that time," he says in his office on the 40th floor of New World Tower in Central.