While the recent Report from Art Basel and UBS collectors confirming a general slowdown, the outlook for Asia – particularly China – was considerably more optimistic: high-net-worth individuals in mainland China spent the largest sums on art and antiques in the first half of 2024, with a median of 97 000, more than double that of any other region. As Clare McAndrew, founder of Arts Economics, explained at the report’s launch conference last month, in China, art and antiques are viewed differently from personal luxury items; they are seen as cultural assets, which partly explains why this market has remained resilient even as other luxury sectors have slowed. Additionally, according to the survey, 70% of respondents plan to buy art in the next year.

With this promising data in mind, the West Bund Art & Design fair is preparing for its 2024 edition, which will open to the press and VIPs on November 7 and will continue until Sunday, November 10. Held at the West Bund Art Center (Halls A and B), West Bund Dome, GATE M Dream Center and ORBIT, the fair will showcase works contributed by 121 galleries from forty-nine cities across twenty-three countries and regions, with many international galleries returning after a pandemic-induced hiatus. Established in 2014, the fair has become a key event in the global Chinese art market, blending a selection of regional and international contemporary art with cutting-edge international design.

This year marks the eleventh consecutive appearance of leading galleries such as Hauser & Wirth, Ota Fine Arts, Pace Gallery, ShanghART Gallery, White Cube and WHITE SPACE, all of whom have supported the fair since its inception. Among the forty-one new participants are Lucie Chang Fine Arts (Hong Kong), CHINI Gallery (Taipei), CON_ (Tokyo), Ferris Gallery (Shenzhen), Karma (New York, Los Angeles), KORNFELD Galerie (Berlin), Nan Ke Gallery (Shanghai), SIMULACRA (Beijing) and THE SHOPHOUSE (Hong Kong). Other leading international galleries featured this year include Gagosian, GALLERIA CONTINUA, Sadie Coles HQ, MASSIMODECARLO, Xavier Hufkies, Lisson Gallery, Perrotin and Esther Shipper.

The fair will feature several curated sections, including “DREAM xiàn chǎng”, supported by the GATE M Dream Center, which will feature extensive artworks from around 40 invited artists, with pieces installed indoors and outdoors. outside the place. Meanwhile, “Perspective” will provide a platform to highlight the latest developments in art institutions, locally and globally, fostering exchanges and collaborations. In addition, Louis Vuitton is organizing a series of industry-specific discussions, titled “LOUIS VUITTON West Bund Voice”, in partnership with the show, with the participation of distinguished guests from China and abroad. Simultaneously, Baer Faxt will present the Finnish design master Eero Aarnio‘s first major exhibition in Asia, with his latest outdoor sculpture on display in the plaza of the West Bund Art Center Hall A.

Coinciding with West Bund Art & Design, the Art021 art fair will take place from November 7 to 10 at the Shanghai Exhibition Center. This year, Art021 will feature 125 participating galleries and projects from forty-three cities across twenty countries and regions. Founded in 2013 and one of China’s oldest and largest art fairs, Art021 even predates the West Bund and recently launched a new edition in Hong Kong. With thirty participating international galleries, Art021 continues to expand its global presence, with recurring galleries such as Galerie Chantal Crousel (Paris), OTA Fine Arts (Tokyo, Singapore, Shanghai), Mennour (Paris, London), Almine Rech ( Paris, New York). York, London, Brussels, Shanghai, Monaco), White Cube (London, Hong Kong, Paris, New York, Seoul), David Zwirner (New York, Los Angeles, London, Hong Kong, Paris), Kurimanzutto (Mexico, New York ) and the Taka Ishii gallery (Tokyo, Kyobashi, Kyoto). New additions include APALAZZO Gallery (Brescia), CARLOS/ISHIKAWA (London), Fergus McCaffrey (New York, Tokyo, St. Barts), Saatchi Yates (London), THE SHOPHOUSE (Hong Kong), X Contemporary Art (Changsha) and ZIAN. Gallery (Hangzhou).

The observer spoke with Evelyne Zhangdirector of business development at West Bund Art & Design, to learn more about what to expect from this year’s edition before it opens next week.

What can you tell us about the highlights of this edition and what are you particularly looking forward to?

In 2024, the fair expanded to five venues: West Bund Art Center Hall A, Hall B, West Bund Dome, Orbit and GATE M Dream Center. The fair stretches from the northern end of Longteng Avenue to the south, covering a significant area and radiating dynamism across Shanghai and neighboring provinces, promoting the thriving development of the art ecosystem.

Shanghai has a vibrant art scene, with a growing number of institutions and a wide variety of galleries spread across the city’s different neighborhoods. How will the fair extend beyond the venue to interact with the local art scene?

Every year, West Bund Art & Design collaborates with local galleries and art institutions in Shanghai through various forms of engagement. Galleries and museums usually launch their most important exhibitions of the year in November. For example, the Power Station of Art (PSA) will feature artists Yin Xiuzhenthe solo exhibition of “Piercing the Sky”. Foreign galleries also choose to hold pop-up exhibitions in Shanghai during this period. This year, Paula Cooper Gallery presents a group exhibition titled “Resonance” at Yuhua New Village.

SEE ALSO: Five must-see contemporary art museums in Shanghai

Additionally, local art institutions will simultaneously launch various events at West Bund Art & Design and its main venue. For example, the London artist Daniel Crews-Chubbwho will present a solo exhibition titled “Immortals” at the Long Museum in November, will also participate in the West Bund Art & Design forum. The George Rickey Estate will share its ideas at the fair while showcasing three large, dynamic sculptures on display at the Jing’an Sculpture Park.

Now that China is in the post-lockdown era, do you anticipate a significant increase in international visitors? What is the target demographic for this year’s fair?

At the fair, national galleries will present high-quality works, leveraging the fair as a platform to attract international visitors and collectors. At the same time, international galleries will also take advantage of this opportunity to engage with a wider audience of visitors and local collectors. For example, this year, we are happy to welcome a large French delegation to the show.

With the rise of new art fairs in Asia, many are wondering which will become the most important in the region. How does West Bund Art & Design intend to position itself in the face of growing competition from Art Basel Hong Kong, Frieze Seoul, Gendai of Tokyo and others?

In 2014, when the art fair was established, there were already many fairs in Asia, such as SH Contemporary, Art Stage, Art Taipei, KIAF and Art India. While the number of fairs has increased, some have also disappeared. Over the past decade, this ecosystem has undergone continuous changes. We share a common goal with most fairs in the world: to build a bridge between international and local communities, fostering mutual communication and strengthening interactive connections in art and multidisciplinary creativity. We hope to have achieved this in part.