Over 35 years of collecting, Hong Kong-born Patrick Sun has been one of Asia’s foremost patrons and promoters of queer art.
Through the Sunpride Foundation, founded in Hong Kong in 2014, Sun has organized pioneering group exhibitions of works from his collection in Asian museums. The inaugural show, at the Taiwan Museum of Contemporary Art in 2017, was said to be the first LGBTQ+ themed exhibition held at any museum in Asia. Subsequent iterations of the exhibition were presented at the Bangkok Art and Culture Center in 2019 and Hong Kong’s Tai Kwun in 2022-23. The Sun’s collection includes works by Bhupen Khakhar, David Medalla, Sin Wai Kin and Samson Young, among others. In addition to being a member of the acquisitions and patronage committees of M+, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and the Tate, Sun is an active voice in the campaign for equal LGBTQ+ rights in Hong Kong and Taiwan.
by Alvin Ong Dumpling (2023) Courtesy of Sunpride Foundation
The Art Newspaper: What first turned you on to art?
Patrick Sun: Property I am a real estate developer and my first project was in an area famous for selling antiques and curios. I tried to buy property from my neighbors, but I bought paintings from them instead.
What was the first job you bought?
An old scroll showing two boys hiding in a garden eating watermelon. In retrospect, it foreshadows my subsequent collection of LGBTQ+ art.
What is the last work you bought?
by Alvin Ong Dumpling (2023), a group exhibition at the Yavuz Gallery in Singapore, which celebrated the repeal of a colonial law in the city-state that criminalized sex between men.
How quickly do you decide to buy a piece of art?
Very quickly. My foundation has a small team that can make quick decisions. We also collect for display purposes, so personal preferences play a lesser role in these decisions.
Anne Samatre’s Conundrum Ka Sorga/Heaven (2019) From the exhibition Tai Kwun Southern Ho
Do you have a favorite piece of art in your collection?
Robert Rauschenberg’s work during his major trip to China [in 1982]. It represents a split peach—a symbol of extravagant love in China—and the Chinese character for “truth.”
What do you regret not buying when you had the chance?
[Chinese photographer] Because Ren Hang’s work, shortly after we met, he committed suicide [in 2017] due to chronic depression. I use this experience as a reminder of how important it is to preserve the heritage of the LGBTQ+ community. Queer people without families or children, or sometimes with parents who would like to hide their children’s sexuality, are soon forgotten if their legacies are not properly cared for.
If you could own one piece from any museum in the world, which would it be?
of Francis Bacon Triptych, May-June 1973 (1973), in memory of her lover, George Dyer, who committed suicide.
What are you looking for at Art Basel Hong Kong this year?
The Encounters section, which showcases large-scale works more suited to museum collections. It’s a great opportunity for me to see work that isn’t often shown in smaller galleries or art fairs.
What advice would you give to someone visiting Hong Kong for the first time?
Visit a local neighborhood, eat local food and learn how most people in the city live. The essence of Hong Kong lies in its diverse culture that combines East and West, old and new. One has to wander outside the glitzy neighborhoods to see what the city has to offer.
Where do you like to eat and drink? in Hong Kong?
WING for heavenly Chinese food with a touch of French influence. Yat Lok: You have to queue and eat at a crowded place, but the roast goose is the best in Hong Kong. For drinks, I like Argo [in the Four Seasons] and Carlyle & Co [a private members’ club]. Both have spectacular views of Victoria Harbor and innovative cocktails.
What is your least favorite art fair?
Food. Even gourmet restaurants seem to be in the mix when it comes to art fairs, and he barely has time to eat anyway.
