A Fair Debut in Taipei
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Magnus Renfrew is opening doors in Asia. In 2007, he founded and directed Art HK: Hong Kong International Art Fair, which helped position Hong Kong as the center of the art market in Asia and was later acquired by Art Basel. Now, Renfrew might be doing the saA Fair Debut in Taipei
Magnus Renfrew is opening doors in Asia. In 2007, he founded and directed Art HK: Hong Kong International Art Fair, which helped position Hong Kong as the center of the art market in Asia and was later acquired by Art Basel. Now, Renfrew might be doing the same for Taipei. The first edition of Taipei Dangdai, an international art fair with regional roots, will feature 80 galleries with spaces in Asia and take place January 18-20. Despite his remarkable achievements with Art HK, Renfrew recognizes each city is unique and requires a different playbook for long-term success. We spoke with Renfrew about his vision for Taipei Dangdai, the burgeoning art market in Asia, and his recommendations for first-time visitors to Taipei.What can visitors expect from the first edition of Taipei Dangdai art fair?An exceptional lineup of galleries, an emphasis on Asia, a talks program with leading speakers in their respective fields, and an opportunity to discover new things.What are you most excited for personally?I am most excited about setting the foundations for long-term success. We have enjoyed amazing support from the local art community, from sponsors and from our galleries. There is considerable excitement about the prospects for this fair. It is our first edition but we hope to be able to build this step by step into a key fixture on the art calendar.Why did you decide to start an art fair in Taipei?I was approached by galleries from Taipei who were keen to have an international art fair that had rigorous quality control. Over the last 10 years, I have spent a great deal of time visiting Taiwan. It is a market with one of the most established collector bases in Asia – for Contemporary art purchased through galleries, but also for antiquities, ink painting, ceramics, modern Chinese, Western Impressionist and Modern. There is also a wealth of collectors who are yet to buy from galleries who are currently buying exclusively from auction.We hope that, through our quality control, participation in the fair becomes an imprimatur of quality that gives collectors a comfort level to take the first step on their Contemporary collecting journey.Are you approaching Taipei Dangdai differently than you did in Hong Kong in 2007? Why or why not?If you try to recreate success, you fail. But we are approaching things with the same rigorous approach as we did with Hong Kong — that is to say that we are working hard to galvanize the local community, targeting every level of the market, from established collectors to aspiring collectors. Taipei and Hong Kong are different and each has their own characteristics and advantages. It is important to create an event that respects its context. Taipei Dangdai has many of the best western galleries in the world participating but this represents 20 out of our 90 galleries. Ten of those 20 have spaces in Asia, and a further five have full time on the ground representatives. In this respect, the fair is deeply rooted in Asia and is designed for those galleries that are committed to building deeper connections in the region.When did you first get involved in the art market in Asia and how has it since evolved?I first got involved in the art market in Asia around 2005 when I started working to help put together the first auction of Contemporary Asian art for the auction house Bonhams in London, which took place in the spring of 2006. I then moved to Shanghai in the summer of 2006 to take up a one-year contract working for Pearl Lam, before moving to Hong Kong in 2007 to set up Art HK. The art scene has developed dramatically in the last 10 years. Interest in art from Asia has gone from being niche to mainstream. The world has changed immensely over the past 10 years and Asia is playing an ever more important role in all our lives. The art world is no exception. Galleries from elsewhere in the world are taking Asia more and more seriously as can be seen by the number of galleries that have been opening in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Seoul and Taipei.Is there a local dish that visitors must try? If so where’s the best place to go for it?Pineapple cakes — Sunny Hills.What neighborhood or hotel would you recommend people stay in?My Humble House and Le Meridien are great hotels, and Xinyi district is great for shopping.What is your favorite art and non-art museum in the city?I very much enjoy visiting the Taipei Fine Art Museum, which will be hosting the [Taipei] Biennial at the time of Taipei Dangdai. The Palace Museum has an exceptional collection of antiquities.For first time visitors, what is one tourist trap you would avoid and one tourist attraction that is a must-see?I don’t really have one to avoid, but the night markets have a great atmosphere.https://www.blouinartinfo.com/ Founder: Louise Blouin Read more