The article questions the appointment of James Taylor-Foster as the incoming director of Para Site in Hong Kong, noting his background as a curator of architecture and design rather than contemporary art, and his lack of prior engagement with Asia's curatorial scene. It also reports that Philip Tinari, former director of UCCA in Beijing, has been appointed to lead Tai Kwun, replacing Pi Li, who has become founding director of the Tencent-funded Róng Museum of Art in Shenzhen.
These appointments highlight ongoing tensions in Hong Kong's art world around colonial legacies and the criteria for leadership roles in major institutions. The article critiques the lack of local Asian curatorial voices in top positions, suggesting a "colonial hangover" persists even as Western institutions pursue diversity. The moves also reflect the growing influence of tech-funded museums in mainland China and the shifting power dynamics between Beijing, Hong Kong, and Shenzhen.