Walk the Art

It was raining heavily around this time last year. It poured almost non-stop for about three months. As water rushed through the streets and the mildew began its advance, the Commercial Galleries Association of Hong Kong hosted its annual Art Walk. Despite the torrential rain, it was a sell-out. About 2,000 people hopped from gallery to gallery through Central, dodging puddles and hiding from downpours. The wine was opened early, the galleries were open late and there was a lot of quality art for sale.

Since its inception six years ago, the Hong Kong Art Walk has become a “must-do” event on the city’s cultural and social calendars, whatever the weather. What started six years ago as a small event of only 12 art galleries in Central now involves 41 venues from SoHo to Aberdeen, with several specially curated exhibitions. Sponsored by local food and wine retailers, the event is a mobile artistic and gastronomical feast. SoHo gallery owner John Batten has been the event organizer for years and believes the beauty of the event lies in its simplicity. “Art Walk is what it is: art, food and wine,” he says. Throw people from all walks of life into the mix and you get a good night out. “It’s a fun, social event,” Batten says. “It’s 2,000 people doing one thing, and what happens is people talk to anyone and everyone – not just to their friends. Anecdotally, I’ve heard that people have formed relationships, found jobs – all that sort of stuff happens on the night, too.”

Though socializing is the primary goal of many participants, the real star of the night is the art work. Art Walk provides, in one night, a fairly comprehensive survey of the contemporary art world in Asia – the good, the bad and the ugly. “I think people get a great overview of what’s out there. There are more than 40 galleries, so there will be some crud, but there will be some really good art as well,” Batten says. “And art here is not just about Hong Kong, it’s about the region. Within two hours of Hong Kong, you’ve got all these fantastic art places: China, the Philippines, Bangkok – and you can find a lot of that in the galleries here.”

The Art Walk certainly attracts Hong Kong’s art lovers, collectors and artists, but who else are you likely to meet out on the streets on March 1? “I’m always surprised by who does it,” Batten admits. “It’s the sort of event where the guests make it what it is. You’ll find yourself rubbing shoulders with people in suits and people in jeans. There’s no dress code and no bullshit. And that appeals to people. Art can be a threatening thing, and if you feel threatened, the best way to see art is in a group.”

Securing safety in numbers shouldn’t be a problem when so many galleries are brimming with Art Walkers. There is also the very fine Dutch courage served up at all the venues by SoHo Wines. And if you’re out there to buy, this is your chance to find out what you can afford: All of the participating galleries must display the prices for the exhibited art works, one of the few conditions organizers impose on the galleries. This means visitors can find out prices without having to negotiate with a dealer. Even if you’re not buying on the night, the prices give you a clear idea of the art market in Hong Kong, making your next visit to a gallery a bit easier. “People do buy art on the night,” Batten says. “It’s one of the few times in a year that couples go out and look at art together.”

What’s To See?

With more than 41 galleries taking part this year, there’s going to be a lot of art to see. Batten has ensured that the Art Walk will remain an inclusive, rather than exclusive, event when it comes to gallery participation. You’ll find surrealist paintings by Chinese artist Liu Baomin at Gallery on Old Bailey, the wild works of Macau’s Konstantin Bessmertny at Amelia Johnson, the satirical bronze sculptures of Wu Shaoxiang at Plum Blossoms, and conceptual pieces by Ivy Ma at UMA G in Wan Chai.