Fine Art Asia is held annually in early October, at the peak of the art season in Hong Kong. This year the fair attracted 15,000 visitors, including dealers, curators, collectors and art lovers from Asia and all over the world. VIP guests enjoyed the Private View and Vernissage on 3 October.
Floris van der Ven, director of Vanderven Oriental Art, The Netherlands (centre), entertains Robin Markbreiter, publisher and owner of Arts of Asia Magazine (left), and collector Peter Fung Yiu Fai. A highlight of his exhibition was a Chinese triple gourd vase dating from the Kangxi period (1662-1722) of the Qing Dynasty.
Salomon Aaron, director of David Aaron, London (left), shows a marble Torso of Dionysus, dating from the 1st – 2nd century in Rome, to guests in his booth.
The gallery is renowned for its rare ancient Near Eastern, Egyptian, Islamic, Classical and Asiatic antiquities.
A special exhibition at Fine Art Asia 2019, entitled “70 + 30: The Hei Formula”, showcased classical Chinese furniture and Chinese paintings from the private collections of renowned collector and dealer, Hei Hung-Lu and his son Andy Hei, founder and director of Fine Art Asia.
One of the highlights of the special exhibition “70 + 30: The Hei Formula” was a 20-leaf album of paintings and calligraphy by Shi Lu (1919-1982), a Chinese painter and calligrapher who was influenced by the 17th-century monk-painter Shitao.
Fine Art Asia 2019 was happy to welcome back DANON, Rome, exhibiting exquisite Imperial silk and metal carpets dating from the Qing Dynasty, made in the Imperial workshops for specific halls and pavilions of the Chinese Imperial palaces.
This year saw the launch of the inaugural Masterpiece Pavilion at Fine Art Asia 2019. Fine Art Asia is happy to be in collaboration with Masterpiece and also held a Fine Art Asia Showcase at the fair in London in June-July 2019.
Philip Hewat-Jaboor, Chairman and Lucie Kitchener, Managing Director of Masterpiece London, in the inaugural Masterpiece Pavilion at Fine Art Asia 2019. In the foreground is a bronze work by Claude Lalanne exhibited by Ben Brown Fine Arts, London/Hong Kong.
The Masterpiece Pavilion encapsulated the fair’s cross-collecting philosophy. A
1st – 2nd century Roman bust exhibited by Valerio Turchi Antichità, Rome is flanked by The Bridgewater House Porphyry Dolphin Tables, 1803-1806, presented by Ronald Phillips Ltd., London and paintings by Bridget Riley shown by Alan Wheatley Art, London
A visitor admires a rare oil painting by Paul Cézanne (1839 - 1906), La Vie des Champs, dating from c.1876-77, presented by Agnews, London in the Masterpiece Pavilion.
Important treasures showcased by ROBILANT+VOENA, London in the Masterpiece Pavilion included Concetto Spaziale I Quanta, a work in oil on canvas by Lucio Fontana (1899-1968) dating from 1959/1960.
Renowned dealer and collector, Hei Hung-Lu (centre) was happy to welcome old friends at his special exhibition,
“70 + 30: The Hei Formula”. He is seen here with collectors Angus Forsyth (left) and Dr Michael Martin (right).
Susanna Lo, Managing Director of Fine Art Asia, welcomed Henry Tang, GMB, GBS, JP, former Chief Secretary of the HKSAR from 2007-2011, to the fair.
Fabio Rossi, director of Rossi & Rossi Hong Kong/London, experts in Indian and Himalayan classical art and early textiles, showed a rare Gandharan sculpture of Seated Atlas dating from the c. 2nd – 3rd century, to guests at his booth.
A highlight piece exhibited by Koopman Rare Art, London, renowned for antique silver and objets de vertu, was a massive Chinese silver punch bowl, made in Shanghai c. 1888. The piece was sold at the fair.
Fine Art Asia 2019 was delighted to welcome Yufuku Gallery, Tokyo, specialising in contemporary Japanese art, for the first time. Here director Wahei Aoyama describes the work of sculptor Naoki Takeyama (b.1974) whose work in enamelled metal is a stunning reinterpretation of an age-old art.
Renowned dealer and collector, Hung Hei-Lu (left) and his son Andy Hei, founder and director of Fine Art Asia (right), welcomed collector Mimi Wong to their booth. Mimi Wong has been collecting Ming and early Qing furniture for many years and her collection is reputed to be one of the finest in the world.
Jorge Welsh, director of Jorge Welsh Works of Art, London/Lisbon, in conversation in his booth which showcased cross-cultural works of art, with a strong emphasis on Chinese export porcelain.
Yvel, Motza, Israel, made its debut at Fine Art Asia 2019 with a stunning booth featuring one “waterfall wall” and displaying exquisite pieces of designed jewellery by artist Yvel-Isaac Levy.
Nancy Maria Lee Chang, JP, Chairman, Friends of Hong Kong Museum of Art and Director, The Ink Society, was a welcome guest and speaker at Fine Art Asia 2019. She is seen here with Andy Hei, director of Fine Art Asia (left) and his father, renowned collector and dealer Hei Hung-Lu.
A panel discussion, “Hong Kong and A Global Art Network”, was presented by the Hong Kong Palace Museum at Fine Art Asia 2019. From left to right:
Daisy Yiyou Wang, Deputy Director, Curatorial and Programming, Hong Kong Palace Museum (moderator); Maria Mok, Museum Director, Hong Kong Museum of Art; Nancy Maria Lee Chang, JP, Chairman, Friends of Hong Kong Museum of Art & Director, The Ink Society; Yifawn Lee, Publisher, Orientations
Pine’s Art, Taipei/Shanghai, a long-time exhibitor at Fine Art Asia, exhibits contemporary artists who express the spirit of Chinese philosophy and Oriental aesthetics. This year, as well as its regular artists, the gallery had a special exhibition of works by Hu Shih.
Somlo London, specialising in antique watches, had a section of exquisite timepieces made for the Chinese market in the 18th century. Among them was a gold and enamel pocket watch (centre) depicting Hector’s farewell to his wife and son, made in London, c. 1710.
Fine Art Asia 2019 was very happy to welcome Amir Mohtashemi, London for the first time. Here a visitor admires a rare 17th-century Indo-Portuguese cabinet from Goa, India; above which hangs a watercolour, Grey Peacock-Pheasant, from Calcutta, India, c. 1800.
Renowned dealer and collector Hei Hung-Lu welcomed Lim Che Chiang, a fellow collector of Chinese classical furniture, to the special exhibition “70 + 30: The Hei Formula”.
A guest at the vernissage walks in front of the booth of Tenzing Asian Art, San Francisco, which has exhibited at Fine Art Asia since 2015, showcasing masterpieces of Himalayan Buddhist art.
The Hong Kong Palace Museum, scheduled to open in 2022, was a new Education Partner of Fine Art Asia 2019.
Its beautifully designed booth at the fair was a fascinating preview of the Museum, providing a dialogue between traditional art and technology, the past and the present.
On Tung Jewellery, Hong Kong specialises in jadeite jewellery, both antique and contemporary. A highlight at Fine Art Asia 2019 was a highly rare and important Imperial green jadeite archer’s ring with a white jade stand, dating from the late Qing Dynasty.
Alexandre Giorgini, Consul General of France in Hong Kong and Macau (left), attended the Private View and Vernissage on 3 October. He is seen here with renowned dealer and collector, Hei Hung-Lu and his son Andy Hei, director of Fine Art Asia, at their special exhibition.
Marcus Flacks, director of MD Flacks, London (left), specialising in Chinese furniture and scholar’s objects, was visited by renowned US dealer and Chinese antiques expert, James Lally, director of J.J. Lally & Co; Oriental Art, New York.
A group of ladies from Cheongsam Connect, a non-profit organisation in Hong Kong which aims to revive and foster the appreciation of cheongsam, with Susanna Lo, Managing Director of Fine Art Asia (2nd left) in front of the booth of Jorge Welsh Works of Art, London/Lisbon.
Visitors admire a set of painted scrolls depicting the birthday of the Tang Dynasty general Guo Ziyi (posthumously named Zhongwu), painted in Beijing in the late 18th/early 19th century for export to the West. The piece was exhibited by Teresa Coleman Fine Arts, Hong Kong.
Gallery YAH, Taipei/Beijing, was exhibiting for the first time at Fine Art Asia 2019, showcasing 20th century modern design.
Education Partner, the Hong Kong Palace Museum presented a series of workshops at Fine Art Asia 2019, including “Beauty of Ambience – Gongbi Painting Demonstration”, which proved very popular with visitors.
wamono art, Hong Kong/Tokyo, returned to Fine Art Asia 2019 for the second year with an eye-catching exhibition of contemporary Japanese art, including Foetus II, a sculpture in madake (Japanese bamboo) by Kei Hasegawa (b. 1986).
Tanya Baxter Contemporary, London/Hong Kong, is a regular exhibitor at Fine Art Asia, presenting masters of modern British art. This year highlights included works by Tracey Emin, Banksy, Andy Warhol and David Hockney.
Maison Guan, Hong Kong showcases unique fine jewellery pieces designed by Simon Kwan. A magnificent peacock brooch entitled Plumage was a glittering creation in diamonds, sapphires, emeralds and white and yellow gold.
Maria Kiang Chinese Art, Hong Kong, established in 2006, is a leading specialist in Chinese antiques, notably literati and Imperial scholar’s objects. A highlight of her exhibition this year was a Ming Dynasty Imperial gilt-bronze inkstone dating from the early 15th century.
Renowned Hong Kong designer Alan Chan (right) visited the exhibition of the International Craftsmen Association x Kyoto Prefecture Government, Kyoto/Beijing/Hong Kong at Fine Art Asia 2019.
Chang’s Oriental Art, Taipei as usual had a fine exhibition of lacquer ware, statues and stone carvings, scholar’s items and bronzes at the fair.
In another workshop organised by the Hong Kong Palace Museum, “Blankness in Mind – Tea Ceremony & Tasting”, guests were taken on a journey back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
Renowned collectors Betty Lo (centre) and Kenneth Chu (left) with Susanna Lo, Managing Director of Fine Art Asia. The couple has jointly assembled the Mengdiexuan Collection of Chinese antiquities, which comprises scholar's objects, metalwork, ancient Chinese gold and personal ornaments.
Sue Ollemans, London, specialising in antique Asian jewellery and Chinese jades, who has exhibited at Fine Art Asia since it was established in 2006, with clients in her booth.
Guests at the vernissage beside the life-size bronze and stainless steel figurative sculpture Above the Wind by Ren Zhe (b. 1983), exhibited by Pottinger 22 and Yan Gallery, Hong Kong.
Diana Chou, Founder and Chairperson of Dragon General Aviation Group Ltd (3rd left); Christine Kuo, Hong Kong actress (2nd right); William Lok, Hong Kong racing driver (right); with Susanna Lo, Managing Director, Fine Art Asia (left), Andy Hei, Director, Fine Art Asia, and his father Hei Hung-Lu in their booth.
YEWN, Hong Kong, showcased Dickson Yewn’s “Dream and Reality” collection which took seven years to create. It is the first time a jewellery designer has recreated specific species of butterfly in exact detail in precious gems. He plans to donated the collection of 60 species to natural history museums worldwide.
Himalayan art is a strong category at Fine Art Asia. A stunning example is this gilt copper sculpture of Vasudhara, dating from the 13th century in Nepal, exhibited by Jacques How Asian Art, Brussels.
Santos, London, a leading dealer in Chinese porcelain and works of art since 1979, is a regular exhibitor at Fine Art Asia. Here Mr Santos (left) shows pieces to a visitor in his booth vitrine.
Collector Dr Frank Chan enjoyed the special exhibition, “70 + 30: The Hei Formula” at Fine Art Asia 2019.
The Sovereign Art Foundation Students Prize 2019 was showcased at Fine Art Asia 2019. Works by the 20 finalists were exhibited during the fair, and the Awards Ceremony was held on 7 October, attended by participants, their teachers and families.
The final workshop organised by the Hong Kong Palace Museum at Fine Art Asia 2019 was “Colours of the Imperial Garden – Floral Arrangement Demonstration”, which attracted visitors of all ages at the fair.
The ‘Rockefeller’ Relief