As high-value collectors descend on Hong Kong for the VIP opening of Asia’s largest art fair, a new fringe event is floating the idea that the art market can balance commerce with open, relaxed experiences.
Taking place at Central’s Fringe Club, Supper Club (until March 30) is a pop-up initiative by Hong Kong gallerists Alex Chan (owner of The Shophouse), Ysabelle Cheung and Willem Molesworth (founders of PHD Group). The 22 local and international galleries are exhibiting together with panel discussions and artist performances over six evenings from 4pm to 1am. The event is facilitated by curator Anqi Li and art consultant Guoying Stacy Zhang, a board member of the Fringe Club.
Supper Club is taking place at Central’s Fringe Club By Fringe Club, Hong Kong
The Supper Club is designed to be an informal contemporary art experience, countering Art Basel’s busy calendar of exclusive events. Organizers hope to “bridge between the hyper-commercial, internationally focused energy of Hong Kong art week and the experimental and intimate venues of regional presentations,” says Cheung.
They were inspired by the launch of the Basel Social Club in 2022, together with the Swiss edition of Art Basel, as well as Our Week, a similar fair organized last year at Frieze Seoul and Kiaf Seoul. Both events were intended to be a quiet antidote to corporate mega-fairs.
Some participating Supper Club galleries are showing art for the first time in Hong Kong, such as Seoul Cylinder, which opened in 2020 and has only participated in South Korean fairs so far. “After participating in Frieze Seoul last year, we felt we needed a broader gallery program,” says gallery founder Dooyong Ro. “We were fascinated by the attitude of the Super Club, which considers it an alternative fair that does not comply with the agreements.”
