The annual Art Beijing, which is running at the National Agriculture Exhibition Center, has developed into a local, affordable fair with more space devoted to little-known, homegrown galleries, an increased presence of design art and more works by young artists.
In the wake of competition from Hong Kong and Shanghai, the 12-year-old Art Beijing fair seeks its own niche with affordable fine art
Art Beijing, the capital city's long-standing art fair, opened its preview day on Saturday, the hottest April day Beijing has experienced in 66 years. The annual fair that's open at the National Agriculture Exhibition Center until Tuesday attracted fewer VIPs－collectors, dealers and artists eager to have the first glance－for the preview than usual.
The absence of several prominent international galleries' branches in Beijing and a lack of blue-chip works caused a lower attendance of regular visitors.
In its 12th year, Art Beijing has developed into a local, affordable fair. In past years, there were a number of international galleries and pricey works by top-notch artists. This year, there is more space devoted to little-known, homegrown galleries, an increased presence of design art and more works by young artists.
Art Beijing has faced intensified competition since 2013, when the prestigious art-fair brand Art Basel inaugurated its show in Hong Kong, reinforcing the city's status as Asia's art-market capital.
Shanghai was catching up quickly with the launch of Art 021 Contemporary Art Fair in the same year and West Bund Art & Design fair in 2014. Both boast a prominent international presence in terms of galleries and artists. Strong sales were achieved: Transactions exceeding 1 million yuan ($145,100) were not uncommon.
Exhibitors adopt a different strategy at Art Beijing. They offer a lot of moderately priced works to attract middle-class buyers.
Dong Mengyang, director of Art Beijing, says the most popular works are generally between 100,000 yuan and 200,000 yuan.
Xia Jifeng, director of Hive Center for Contemporary Art and a regular participant, agrees. Xia, who also chairs Beijing Gallery Association, says works within the price range normally sell quickly at his booth. He says he doesn't bring works that are priced in millions of yuan because "it would be difficult to find buyers" at the fair.
The Hive Center has operated a space in Beijing's 798 art district since 2008 and just opened a space in Shenzhen in March. At Art Beijing, it's showing some 20 figurative and abstract works, mostly by artists in their 20s and 30s. They are priced at no more than 700,000 yuan.
He says five works, including a painting by 41-year-old Tu Hongtao priced at 600,000 yuan, sold shortly after the preview began at 2 pm, and buyers include both familiar and new faces.
