Art in Hong Kong: Portrait of a City in Flux (Hot Topics in the Art World)

'This is a nuanced interrogation of Hong Kong's evolving art scene. Enid Tsui dismantles the “cultural desert” myth with a sharp, incisive analysis of its hybrid identity and geopolitical shifts – essential reading for those seeking deeper insights into the city's artistic transformation.’ – Xiaowen Zhu, Director of esea contemporary, Manchester, and British Council Arts and Creative Economy Advisor

Art in Hong Kong is a fascinating analysis of the history, current status and possible future of Hong Kong as an international art hub, written by a local journalist who has reported on the city’s cultural landscape for many years. Enid Tsui presents a balanced and insightful picture of recent changes in the city which was once the poster-child of artistic freedom in Asia as well as the undisputed leader of the region's booming contemporary-art market. Some of Hong Kong's traditional advantages now look precarious following new laws imposed by China curbing freedom of expression and the city's long period of isolation during the Covid-19 pandemic. Yet despite the exodus of talent from Hong Kong and growing uncertainties over the 'red lines' of censorship, there are more world-class art institutions in the city than ever before and the market has proved resilient, with international auction houses and galleries continuing to expand their presence there.

This book lifts the lid on a diverse art scene in a city of fascinating contradictions: a former British colony where artists have long been inspired by the interplay between east and west, and where the new M+ museum and other venues have to tread a tightrope between celebrating a distinct and vibrant culture based on different influences and abiding by the new national security regime.  

Hardcover, 104 pages

• Publisher: Lund Humphries Publishers Ltd
• Co-Publisher: Sotheby's Institute of Art
• Series: Hot Topics in the Art World
• Publication Date: 27th January 2025