Art Basel, the most coveted art show, is back in Hong Kong. Every year, thousands flock to one of the most important art fairs in Hong Kong to see the works of the hottest and most established artists, however, it’s also a great platform for up and coming creatives.

During this year’s Art Basel showcase in Hong Kong, the BMW Art Journey – a partnership between Art Basel and BMW to recognise and support emerging and mid-career artists – has unveiled its 2021 artist shortlist: Alice Wang (represented by Capsule Shanghai), Julien Creuzet (represented by High Art, Paris) and Kelvin Kyung Kun Park (represented by Vanguard Gallery, Shanghai). These 3 artists have now been invited to develop the proposals for their ideal journey. The winner will be announced this summer.

Launched in 2015, the BMW Art Journey initiative can take artists to their destinations of choice, to dream up new ideas and creative projects.

Leelee Chan (represented by Capsule Shanghai) was the BMW Art Journey winner in 2020. Her work, titled Circuit (New Moon) is on display at the BMW Showroom in Wan Chai during Art Basel 2021 in Hong Kong. To visit, please register here. As this year marks the 50th anniversary of BMW Group’s global cultural engagement, visitors will be able to view background information on the special occasion as well as miniatures of the BMW Art Car collection.

Here, we meet 3 of the shortlisted artists for the BMW Art Journey 2021.

Alice Wang

Alice was born in 1983. She lives and works in Los Angeles and Shanghai.
Photo: Courtesy of the artist and Capsule Shanghai (05/2021)

Alice was born in 1983. She lives and works in Los Angeles and Shanghai.

Photo: Courtesy of the artist and Capsule Shanghai (05/2021)

Alice Wang has held solo exhibitions in Shanghai and Los Angeles and has also participated in exhibitions, screenings and performances at the K11 Art Foundation in Hong Kong. Apart from being an assistant professor of arts at New York University Shanghai, Wang co-organizes an outdoor exhibition named, The Magic Hour in the Mojave Desert in California.

“Here’s a short list of things that inspire me right now: NASA’s Mars Helicopter Ingenuity, synchronized swimming, Jean Genet’s essay What Remains of a Rembrandt Torn into Four Equal Pieces and Flushed Down the Toilet, lava, and sleep.” – Alice Wang

Julien Creuzet

Julien was born in 1986. He lives and works in Montreuil.
Photo: Courtesy of the artist and High Art, Paris (05/2021)

Julien was born in 1986. He lives and works in Montreuil.

Photo: Courtesy of the artist and High Art, Paris (05/2021)

Julien Creuzet’s recent solo exhibitions include Camden Arts Center in London as well as Palais de Tokyo and Fondation d’entreprise Pernod Ricard in Paris. Creuzet is currently nominated for The Marcel Duchamp Prize 2021.

“The pandemic period was a surprise, like for everyone else, but it was a moment of peaceful WiFi time or loneliness at the studio. It was a shift, the temporality changed and a possibility to start thinking differently. A new beginning…” – Julien Creuzet

Kelvin Kyung Kun Park

Kelvin was born in 1978. He lives and works in Seoul.
Photo: Courtesy of the artist and Vanguard Gallery, Shanghai (05/2021)

Kelvin was born in 1978. He lives and works in Seoul.

Photo: Courtesy of the artist and Vanguard Gallery, Shanghai (05/2021)

Kelvin Kyung Kun Park’s recent solo exhibitions include Shanghai Museum of Glass, Sin Ricoh Gallery and Gallery Hyundai in Seoul. Park’s work was on display at various group exhibitions in Korea.

“I am inspired by contradictions. When everyone agrees, I tend to disagree or vice versa. Sometimes contradicting words or ideas create interesting images.  I hope my works incorporate paradoxes in life.” – Kelvin Kyung Kun Park

Art Basel will be on from 21 – 23 May at the Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Expo Drive, Wan Chai.

Editor

Vogue Hong Kong

Credit

Lead image: Courtesy of The artist (Alice Wang), Capsule Shanghai and Visitor Welcome Center, Los Angeles