e’re Hong Kong’s home-grown
international art fair,” says
Calvin Hui proudly of Fine Art
Asia, the prestigious fair founded
by antique Chinese furniture dealer
Andy Hei in 2006. Over the past decade, the fair has
flourished, acting as a bridge between the booming
Asian collectors market and top Western galleries,
becoming one of Asia’s foremost fixtures on the
international art calendar for fine art and antiques.
Calvin, who joined as co-chairman and director in 2011,
has been pivotal in its growth, not just for his astute
knowledge as a collector, but also his experience as a
curator, consultant and gallerist (he owns 3812 Gallery,
which he refers to as “my baby”). With this year’s show
boasting an unprecedented range of world-class works
alongside a special expanded photography section, the
art enthusiast talks to us about its evolution and why
quality always trumps quantity.
LOOKING AHEAD
As Fine Art Asia puts the finishing
touches to the line-up for its 13th
edition, Calvin Hui talks to Cherry Lai
about what’s in store this year
CONCIERGE |^ SMALL TALK
What can we expect at the fair?
A journey through an eclectic
mix of museum-quality art and
antiques, from Ming dynasty
furniture to precision crafted
timepieces and contemporary
art. Last year’s well-received
photography debut gave us the
confidence to expand the section
with its own dedicated area.What aspects of the fair are you
drawn to the most?
I’m a fan of mid-century
furniture and decorative pieces.
It’s interesting when a collector
who comes to see huanghuali
[Chinese yellow rosewood]
furniture finds himself discussing
silver service, or a jadeite buyer
discovering the cut stones of
Western jewellers. The fair’s
diversity allows one to journey
through time.How has the fair evolved and
where do you hope to take it?
Growth is a step-by-step process.
We believe in developing in
a manner that will allow us
to retain excellence. I recall a
London press conference where
the fair’s success was credited
to us being “a local Hong Kong
team;” that has remained very
important [to the ethos of the
fair]. We are thrilled with our
international exhibitors but
remain very proud of being a
locally grown success.What do you see as the future of
the Asian art market?
Hong Kong remains an integral
part of the international art
market. Fairs, auction houses
and the city’s growing gallery
presence all give us a competitive
edge, and our ease of transacting
and favourable tax climate
benefit collectors, sellers and
artists. The creative economy is
thriving and we’ve continued to
see growth within the collector
market at our fair.What are the most rewarding
aspects of your role?
Seeing an exhibition come to
fruition is immensely satisfying.So is turning the pages of
our exhibition catalogues, or
meeting friends who share the
same passion for collecting.
Curatorial and consultancy
work allows me to seep my
aesthetic values and standards of
perfection into each project. My
passion for art makes all the hard
work worth it.What is good art to you?
Good art is subjective, but I
respect artists who develop
their unique artistic language,
have an understanding of their
own cultural identity and an
ability to demonstrate this with
contemporary expression.What stirred your interest in art
curating and collecting?
I’ve always had a passion for
art, which started with a love
of classical music and vocal
production; music and visual
art appreciation both require
a human touch and spiritual
sensitivity. It was during my
studies in Madrid, immersed in
European art and culture, that
I truly nurtured my interest in
visual art.What pieces of art decorate
your house?
My house is my personal
curatorial space filled with mid-
century design furniture by Gio
Ponti, Whitefriars glass, claret
jugs from the 19th century, silver
plates from 1741 and artworks
by Hsiao Chin, Liu Dan, Wang
Jieyin and Chloe Ho.What’s next for you?
I’ve been working with Pansy
Ho as the exclusive curator and
art consultant for a pioneering
MGM Cotai Art Collection set
to be unveiled soon in Macau
showcasing the city’s cultural
diversity. The third edition of Ink
Asia, which I founded in 2015, is
also opening in December, so it’s
been a busy time.Fine Art Asia is at the Convention
and Exhibition Centre from
September 30 to October 3. PHOTOGRAPHY: MOSES NG62 hong kong tatler. september 2017