The fair's viewing rooms went live on Wednesday evening to VIP guests, who immediately overwhelmed servers and made several big purchases.
Any uncertainty over the reception of Art Basel Hong Kong's online fair would have among collectors was quickly allayed when the viewing rooms opened to the public on Wednesday evening, as overwhelmed servers crashed for 25 minutes.
Gallery David Zwirner reported «brisk» sales to «Art News,» with a Marlene Dumas work going to an American client for $2.6 million and a Mamma Andersson painting to an Asian client for $400,000 early Wednesday. It later added sales of a Luc Tuymans piece for $2 million, a Liu Ye work for $500,000, and a Noah Davis painting for $360,000.
Gagosian also made its first sale within 30 minutes: Splendor in the Grass (2019) by Mary Weatherford – a «giant mixed media painting intersected by two neon tubes» for $750,000. It also sold pieces by Jennifer Guidi and Chinese contemporary artist Jia Aili.
New Experience
Shasha Tittmann of Lehmann Maupin Hong Kong reported positive feedback from clients but said the online viewing exprience is still new to many clients. «There’s interest and curiosity, but it’s clear from the initial experience that it requires strong guidance to lead clients to the viewing room,» Tittmann said.
In an art fair first, prices of artworks – typically confidential to the public – were prominently displayed alongside many artworks, «Art News» said, quoting a dealer who called this an «interesting and a big step.»
Strong Support
The premier art event for collectors in Asia was canceled amid the Covid-19 outbreak, but organizers quickly pivoted to offer sales via online viewing rooms, an initiative that has received strong support from exhibitors.
Some 231 galleries, which account for over 90 percent of the original exhibitor lineup, are offering over 2,000 artworks in the digital sale that is accessible through Art Basel’s website and app.
VIP access ends on Friday evening (March 20), after which the viewing rooms will be open to the public until 6 p.m. (HKT) on Wednesday, March 25.
