By Apinan Poshyananda
As the cruise glided across the night breeze, lights shimmered along the Hong Kong Harbourfront. On deck, guests danced and toasted champagne under the stars to mark the opening of Art Basel Hong Kong (ABHK)—Asia’s most prestigious art fair. The week unfolded in a flurry of openings, parties, performances, and record-breaking sales.
Renowned for its emphasis on free trade, Hong Kong has long been a magnet for art dealers and collectors. However, the landscape is shifting. Representatives from the Hong Kong Art Gallery Association (HKAGA) voiced concerns over surging shipping costs and the impact of escalating tariffs. The aftershocks of Trump’s trade war continue to ripple through the art market, affecting everything from materials to logistics.
Despite the economic uncertainty, the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre was abuzz with energy. Aisles were packed with VIPs, artists, collectors, critics, and philanthropists. This year, 240 galleries from 42 countries exhibited, with nearly half hailing from the Asia Pacific. Prominent names from Europe and the US included Pace, Gagosian, Hauser & Wirth, White Cube, and Mennour, while Bangkok CityCity Gallery, Ames Yavuz, Richard Koh, and Tang Contemporary showcased the region's creative prowess.
Outside the fairgrounds, Hong Kong's institutions added to the spectacle. M+ Museum launched Picasso for Asia: A Conversation, displaying 60 original works by the Spanish master alongside 80 pieces by Asian artists influenced by his legacy. At the Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA), paintings by Cézanne and Renoir drew large crowds. Meanwhile, Cindy Sherman and Yasumasa Morimura’s dual retrospective proved a highlight at M+, tracing their careers through self-portraiture and performance.
At Art Central, over 100 galleries and 500 artists participated, making it the largest edition to date. Auction houses Christie’s, Sotheby’s, Bonhams, and Phillips hosted sales of works by Chagall and Basquiat, while Phillips also presented the Sovereign Art Prize.
From the high-rises of H Queen’s galleries to the alleyways of fringe exhibitions, energy pulsed throughout the city. Notable showcases included Tenzing Rigdol at Rossi & Rossi, Chulayarnnon Siriphol’s The Golden Snail Series at Tomorrow Maybe, and Beauty Will Save the World at 10 Chancery Lane Gallery, featuring Southeast Asian icons like Vu Dan Tan, FX Harsono, Moe Satt, and Dinh Q. Lê.
Sales Soar, Spotlight on Thailand
ABHK recorded several major sales. David Zwirner sold a Yayoi Kusama Infinity Net for US$3.5 million, while Hauser & Wirth closed a Louise Bourgeois sculpture deal for US$2 million. Thaddaeus Ropac reported US$6 million in total sales, including works by Georg Baselitz and Roy Lichtenstein. Tang Contemporary confirmed a Yue Minjun painting was sold for US$1 million.
Thai artists received strong interest. Pinaree Sanpitak’s Silver Offering (2003), presented by Ames Yavuz, sold for US$175,000 each. Rirkrit Tiravanija’s sign works Freedom Cannot Be Simulated and Asians Must Eat Rice were shown at Kurimanzuto and Pilar Corrias, respectively. Rising star Channatip Chanvipava debuted at Ames Yavuz, while Tanat Teeradakorn’s politically charged display at Bangkok CityCity Gallery featured T-shirts, protest songs, and video installations. At Tang Contemporary, a solo show by Gongkan—focusing on transgender identity and traditional Chinese values—sold out its 18 paintings before the official opening.
Meanwhile, the MGM Discoveries Art Prize, celebrating originality, was awarded to South Korean artist Shin Min and Gallery 21 (Seoul). Min’s moving depictions of service labour, gender, and class earned her a US$50,000 cash prize, sponsored by MGM and Pansy Ho, a leading advocate of cultural tourism in Macao.
Dib Museum Launch and Thai Ambitions
A landmark moment was the launch of the Dib International Contemporary Art Museum, a project initiated by the late Petch Osathanugrah and now led by his son, Purat (Chang). The announcement, made at Rosewood Hong Kong, drew prominent attendees including Bernard Chan, Hoor Al Qasimi, Uli Sigg, Akiko Miki, and Gregor Muir. A public conversation between Purat and Alan Lo at ABHK underscored a bold vision: Dib Museum will open its doors in Bangkok on 20 December, aiming to place Thailand firmly on the global art map.
Thailand’s Gamble on Art and Soft Power
When Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced plans to make Bangkok the art hub of Asia—with Art Basel as a centrepiece—many were sceptical. Yet, under the administration of Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the Thailand Creative Culture Agency (THACCA) has injected substantial investment into soft power initiatives spanning film, food, fashion, art, music, and performance. Key reforms include a reduction in art import tariffs from 10% to 0%, aimed at boosting Thailand’s competitiveness against regional giants such as Singapore, Vietnam, and Hong Kong.
THACCA’s efforts recently extended to Macao, where Lawrence Ho, CEO of Melco Resorts, hosted Global Soft Power Talks. Attended by Paetongtarn and leading creative figures like Alain Ducasse, Viviana Muscettola, and Mathieu Lehanneur, the event explored the future of integrated resorts as engines of cultural tourism.
Macao's transformation into a luxury destination—led by Stanley Ho’s legacy and exemplified by City of Dreams, designed by Zaha Hadid—raises important questions. Are entertainment complexes, casinos, and art installations compatible with a national soft power strategy? As works by Murakami, Kaws, Mr. Doodle, and Daniel Buren grace casino lobbies, the boundaries between art, commerce, and spectacle blur.
A Cautionary Note Amid Glamour
With Thailand now eyeing entertainment complexes and casinos as economic engines, public backlash has already begun. Recent protests against proposed legislation highlight growing discomfort around the fusion of soft power with gambling and entertainment. In an era of geopolitical shocks—from natural disasters to renewed trade wars—Thailand’s soft power strategy must be approached with nuance and transparency.
The stakes are high. Soft power, once playful and aspirational, is becoming a high-stakes game. As the ground shifts rapidly beneath our feet, there’s little room for trial and error. This is not the time to play softly—nor to gamble blindly.
