Japan's Art Market Growth and Asian Art News

japans art market growth asian art news

Japan’s art market demonstrated remarkable resilience in 2024, growing by 2% to reach $692 million despite a 12% contraction in the global art market. A government-commissioned report by economist Clare McAndrew revealed that the Japanese market is characterized by high-volume, lower-value transactions, with 93% of sales occurring at price points under $10,000 and dealers accounting for the vast majority of trade.

the asia pivot tobias berger

Tobias Berger, a veteran curator who held senior roles at Hong Kong’s M+ and Tai Kwun, has transitioned from the public sector to lead two new private initiatives: Serakai Studio and the Tanoto Art Foundation. Ahead of Art Basel Hong Kong, Berger is launching "Gold," an experimental salon space in Wong Chuk Hang that merges contemporary art with design and fashion. These roles mark a shift toward agile, privately funded cultural models that prioritize regional focus and experimental programming over the bureaucratic structures of large public museums.

Hong Kong Art Week 2026: Art Basel Preview

hong kong art week art basel preview

Hong Kong’s art market is signaling a cautious recovery in 2026 as the city prepares for its marquee Art Week. Despite macroeconomic improvements in real estate and equities, the sector is grappling with significant logistical hurdles caused by the US–Israel–Iran War. Shipping costs between Europe and China have surged by 30%, leading to the cancellation of the International Antiques Fair and the withdrawal of high-profile delegations like the Sharjah Art Foundation.

K-POP, FUNGI, AND TERRACE RAVES: Art Basel Hong Kong 2026

Art Basel Hong Kong 2026 commenced against a backdrop of global economic uncertainty and geopolitical tension, yet the city's local scene demonstrated remarkable resilience. The week was characterized by a surge of grassroots activity, including the debut of three alternative art fairs and the opening of several new gallery outposts. Key highlights included the launch of GOLD, a cross-disciplinary salon in Wong Chuk Hang, and the expansion of Shanghai’s Antenna Space into the city, signaling a shift toward more flexible, community-oriented art spaces.

New in Town: Four Spaces Debuting in Hong Kong, March 2026

Four new art spaces have opened in Hong Kong in March 2026, expanding the city's gallery landscape. Antenna Space, a Shanghai gallery, debuts in Wong Chuk Hang with the group show "Horizons: South." GOLD, a cultural lab by Serakai Studio, opens nearby with "CERTAINLY." In Mid-Levels, the Cheng-Lan Foundation launches Cheng-Lan's Corner with a solo show by Filipino artist Cian Dayrit. In Central, curator Jims Lam inaugurates the curatorial platform Knotting Space at H Queen's with its first cycle, "KNOT I."

A New Space Built to Replicate an Old-Fashioned Art Salon

The New York Times highlights the emergence of a new physical art space designed to emulate the intimate, conversational atmosphere of traditional 19th-century European salons. Moving away from the sterile 'white cube' aesthetic of modern galleries, this venue prioritizes domestic-scale viewing and intellectual exchange among artists, collectors, and critics.

Serakai Studio to unveil cultural lab GOLD with inaugural exhibition 'CERTAINLY'

Serakai Studio is launching a new cultural laboratory and exhibition space called GOLD in Hong Kong’s Wong Chuk Hang district. The venue, situated in a repurposed bank and jewelry shop, will debut with a group exhibition titled "CERTAINLY" curated by Tobias Berger. The show features a diverse roster of international and local artists, including Pak Sheung Chuen, Shinro Ohtake, and Santiago Sierra, all responding to the theme of uncertainty inspired by La Monte Young’s 1960 instructional compositions.

Serakai Studio unveils dreamedcore, a multi-sensorial exhibition exploring digital nostalgia in Hong Kong

Serakai Studio presents 'dreamedcore', its second exhibition at GOLD in Hong Kong's Wong Chuk Hang district, running from June 6 to August 1. Curated by Shirley Lau and Tobias Berge, the show blends an art exhibition, concept store, and runway format to explore digital-age nostalgia through the lens of 'dreamcore' aesthetics—drawing on 1990s and early 2000s visual textures. Featuring 22 emerging multi-disciplinary artists and creative practitioners from across Asia, including Li Shuang, Wong Ping, and Peng Ke, the exhibition is divided into two chapters: 'The Lure' and 'The Twist', with a central runway stage, ambient lighting, and a mini cinema screening a video by Wong Ping.

Gold by Serakai Studio’s ‘Certainly’ exhibition leans into unpredictability

Serakai Studio has launched its inaugural exhibition, "Certainly," at its new Wong Chuk Hang space, Gold, in Hong Kong. Curated by Tobias Berger, the show features 50 works by 11 international artists and takes its conceptual cue from La Monte Young’s 1960 Fluxus score, "Draw a straight line and follow it." The exhibition explores the impossibility of perfection and the necessity of embracing unpredictability and experimentation in a volatile global climate.

Gold by Serakai Studio’s ‘Certainly’ exhibition leans into unpredictability

Gold by Serakai Studio has launched its inaugural exhibition, "Certainly," in Hong Kong’s Wong Chuk Hang district. Curated by Tobias Berger, the former head of art at Tai Kwun, the show features 50 works by 11 diverse artists that explore themes of unpredictability and experimentation. The exhibition takes its conceptual cue from La Monte Young’s 1960 Fluxus score, "Draw a straight line and follow it," using the impossibility of that task as a metaphor for navigating global instability.