Kristine Li is one of the masterminds behind H Queen’s, the ultra-modern 24-story glass-sheathed tower in Hong Kong’s Central district that is luring international art powerhouses into the city. As deputy general manager of Portfolio Leasing Department at Henderson Land Development, Li oversees the saturation of art into the newly-erected building, celebrating one gallery opening after another. In the week leading up to Art Basel Hong Kong, Li shared more about her hopes and ambitions for H Queen’s with Blouin Artinfo.How was H Queen’s conceived and designed? The development of H Queen’s started in 2013, the same year that Art Basel Hong Kong started. The Hong Kong art scene is changing at a rapid rate in recent years, and we have also witnessed an increasing demand for the art space in the market.After discussing with William Lim, who is a collector, artist, and architect himself, we conceived of Hong Kong’s first purpose-built art and lifestyle building. We talked to different galleries to get to know their needs, then put our thoughts together. The building features high ceilings and a gondola system to transport huge pieces of art as well as glass for zero UV penetration. It is Hong Kong’s first purpose-built art and lifestyle building.The whole process has been a journey of five years, and it was a special milestone when the galleries, including Tang Contemporary, David Zwirner, Whitestone, Pace and so on took the leap of faith to commit to a space at H Queen’s as we were still building, and they hadn’t seen the complete project yet. Now that the galleries are all opening, we are all extremely excited to welcome art lovers from all around the world, and more importantly, be an active hub for vibrant arts and cultural scene in Hong Kong.What is your vision for H Queen’s presence locally and globally?The short form “HQ” also stands for “Headquarter,” as we hope it’ll be the headquarter of arts and lifestyle. H Queen’s is not simply a retail tower. It’s a game changer that will encourage Hong Kong’s creative community.Locally, we hope to be a complement to the public museums such as M+, and create a critical mass art circle in Central, comprising H Queen’s, Pedder Building, Tai Kwun, PMQ, Fringe Club and the to-berenovated Central Market etc. Globally, we hope H Queen’s and the tenants are contributing to Hong Kong’s rise as a global art power.What should visitors during Art Basel Hong Kong be sure not to miss? From 26 March to 2 April, some of the arts tenants extend their opening hours to welcome the art lovers from both local and overseas, encourage the guests to embark on the “Vertical Art Walk.” The artistically designed staircase is open for visitors to explore each floor and enjoy the impressive array of exhibitions.David Zwirner showcases works by German photographer, Wolfgang Tillmans; Galerie Ora-Ora presents a solo exhibition of works by Chinese artist Xiao Xu; Hauser & Wirth inaugurates its first Asia space with a solo exhibition of work by American artist, Mark Bradford; Pace Gallery presents a solo exhibition of works by Japanese artist, Yoshitomo Nara; Pearl Lam Galleries launches its latest gallery space with Italian artist Arcangelo Sassolino’s first solo exhibition in Asia; SA+ hosts the 24th Seoul Auction Hong Kong Sale; Tang Contemporary Art presents a solo exhibition of works by Chinese artist, Ai Weiwei, curated by Cui Cancan; and Whitestone Gallery features a solo exhibition by American artist Dale Chihuly.Enjoy the impressive array of gallery exhibitions, look out of the glass walls for a view of Hong Kong and take a break at Vive Cake Boutique for a lovely cake and a cup of coffee or tea.Why Hong Kong? And why now? Rooted in HK, Henderson Land understands the value of encouraging creativity and the longterm benefits of a robust arts scene. We have a strong sense of belonging to Hong Kong and our “roots” were entrenched in the city. Every community is stronger when creativity is pursued, free thinking is encouraged, and artists are given a platform to express their thoughts. It’s an exciting time for the art world globally, and we are excited to be part of this movement. http://www.blouinartinfo.com Founder Louise Blouin  Read more