Friday, September 26, 2014

Final curtain for SHContemporary?


While art fairs are on the rise in Hong Kong where Art Basel Hong Kong will be joined by Art Central in 2015, Shanghai's main fair is in troubled waters. The recent edition of SHContemporary was a disaster, opening with the grand Shanghai Exhibition Centre conspicuously devoid of art. Consignments were held up in customs with many crates arriving after the last visitors had left the vernissage. And to cap it off, participating galleries were told no sales could take place within the fair as the permit obtained was one only to exhibit art.

Art fair director Guido Mologni says it is too soon to say whether SHContemporary will continue in the future, but it's hard to see the fair recovering from such a set back.
Image: SHContemporary booths in the grand hall of the Shanghai Exhibition Centre