Those who know me know I live for Art Basel Miami each year. But I don’t talk as much about the original fair in Basel, Switzerland or it’s other chapter in Hong Kong. Each is every bit has important to the art world as our branch here in the states. No one is off the 2020 roster.
Art Basel canceled the HK show in March because of the city’s ongoing protests and the coronavirus emergency.
“Our thoughts are with those affected by the recent coronavirus outbreak around the world,” Basel global director Marc Spiegler said in a statement, calling the decision “extremely difficult.”
“We explored every other possible option before” canceling, he said. The fair has promised it will return in 2021.
The Hong Kong Art Gallery Association released a statement in January encouraging Art Basel to hold the fair, but a number of international galleries had called for its cancellation.