They may lack the international profile of the recent Art Basel Miami week, but a series of art fairs and exhibitions that took place in December in three neighbouring cities in southern China was a reminder that the contemporary art scene in this part of the country is roaring with life.
Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Shunde in China’s Greater Bay Area held four concurrent art fairs and numerous exhibitions of their own in the first week of December, making it an unofficial art week of unprecedented scale for the region.
Just as the warmer climate of Florida was a draw for the many northern hemisphere collectors who flocked to Miami, the mild winter in Guangdong province also proved attractive to art enthusiasts from cities such as Shanghai and Beijing.
In Shenzhen, the government-sponsored Art Shenzhen reinforced its position as the cornerstone of the city’s art market following the termination of the DnA Art and Design Fair this year.
Celebrating its 11th edition from December 5 to 8, Art Shenzhen welcomed a record-breaking 86 exhibitors, including some of the most established names in the country, such as ShanghART Gallery and Beijing Commune.
In Guangzhou, the Moordn Art Fair expanded its roster of exhibitors to over 50, and received the support of numerous galleries with a Hong Kong base, such as Axel Verdoordt Gallery, Flowers, Rossi & Rossi, Blindspot Gallery and De Sarthe.