‘Hong Kong’s unique heritage paints an original cultural landscape for the city,’ says Dina Zhang, Regional Senior Specialist in Asian 20th Century and Contemporary Art at Christie’s in Beijing. The specialist grew up and is based in Beijing, but her work with Christie’s now means that she finds herself regularly immersed in the creative dynamism of Hong Kong, with an art scene that ranges from world-class galleries to street art.
Hong Kong’s special place in the global arts scene derives from its unique symbiosis of Asia and the West — ‘the spark ignited when cultures meet’, as Zhang puts it.
It is its spirit of diversity and inclusivity that Zhang seeks to highlight in the FIRST OPEN | Hong Kong auction on 29 March, for which she has selected a range of accessibly priced works by celebrated artists including Zao Wou-Ki, Chu Teh-Chun, Zeng Fanzhi, Gerhard Richter, Yoshimoto Nara and KAWS, as well as emerging Asian artists.
‘Most of these works can be hung in any living space,’ Zhang explains, underlining one of her guiding principles, that ‘small is beautiful’.
‘Through FIRST OPEN | Hong Kong I want to highlight the DNA that makes up the city,’ she continues.
‘I love this job because I get to work with the finest artworks every auction season. Each piece offers a unique glimpse of a history, a culture, a trend. It tells the artist’s personal story, aspirations and dreams.’