Guangzhou, a bustling metropolis and economic powerhouse in southern China, is gaining recognition as a potential new hub for the contemporary art market. The city’s growing prominence in the art world was evident at the recent Moordn Art Fair, held at the Nan Fung International Convention and Exhibition Center. This event, originally launched online in 2022, showcased works from various artists, with prices ranging from 40,000 to 900,000 yuan, attracting a studious and well-mannered audience.
Founded by Tim Lee, a graduate of the Academy of Art in Guangzhou, Moordn aims to foster a thriving art scene in China’s Greater Bay Area, including nine cities plus Hong Kong and Macau. The fair featured 45 galleries, from well-known entities like Tang Contemporary Art and Galerie Urs Meile to emerging galleries outside Beijing and Shanghai. The art presented was mostly affordable, with a few exceptions offering works in the 1 million to 6 million yuan range.
Despite the presence of established art fairs in neighboring Shenzhen and Hong Kong, Guangzhou’s Moordn Art Fair aims to cater specifically to the local collectors’ tastes. Lee’s experience in organizing gallery and artist studio visits for his collectors’ club adds a unique advantage to the fair. While traditional Lingnan-style ink paintings dominate the Guangzhou International Art Fair, Moordn offers a more contemporary selection.
The potential of Guangzhou’s art market is evident, yet it remains relatively small, impacting the success of the fair. Some gallery representatives, including those from Arario, Tokyo Gallery + BTAP, and Tang Contemporary, reported limited sales. However, Galerie Urs Meile did sell a painting by Zhang Xuerui for 300,000 yuan, mainly to existing clients.
The diverse response from galleries reflects the evolving nature of Guangzhou’s art market. While some galleries like Arario Gallery express willingness to return with works more attuned to local taste, others, such as ATTN Gallery, plan to focus on fairs outside Guangdong, citing a lack of “home advantage.”
Guangzhou’s growing recognition in the contemporary art world, coupled with its rich cultural infrastructure, positions it as a burgeoning hub in the art market. The success and challenges of the Moordn Art Fair provide valuable insights into the development of the art scene in this dynamic Chinese city.
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