Inside Art Basel Hong Kong 2025

Art Basel Hong Kong 2025, which took place in March, was more than the average art fair – it was an invitation to rethink how art is created, curated and consumed in the 21st century.

WORDS & PHOTOS Gina Dionisio

The 2025 edition of Art Basel Hong Kong, one of the world’s most prestigious art shows, brought together more than 240 exhibitors – a dynamic mix of artists, galleries, and immersive displays that leaned boldly into cross-disciplinary innovation. With this year’s fair celebrating the transformative power of art, there were a number of installations, stands and works that stood out as a visual meditation on the future of art.

Samsung ArtCube

With its “Borderless: Dive into the Art” concept, the Samsung ArtCube acted as a lens through which fairgoers could explore the evolving role of the screen – not just as a conduit for entertainment, but as a legitimate medium for cultural expression. Designed as a modular installation, the ArtCube immersed visitors in digital works sourced from Art Basel Hong Kong’s exhibiting galleries, alongside selections from Samsung’s expansive Art Store.

Ew! Hair in my Food! Installation

Shin Min’s work explores the struggles of South Korean women in service and corporate jobs, inspired by her experiences at Starbucks and McDonald’s. Her series Ew! Hair in my Food! was turned into a mega installation for Art Basel Hong Kong, allowing fairgoers to get a close up look at her sculptures of female workers in uniforms and hairnets, symbolising labour constraints and conformity. The artist was also the winner of the inaugural MGM Discoveries Art Prize. The MGM Discoveries Art Prize is a newly established award for the 2025 edition of Art Basel Hong Kong aimed at supporting emerging artists and fostering new talent.

Cosmic Trees

Turkish artist Hayal Pozanti expanded her biomorphic visual language into a fully immersive sculptural environment. Drawing inspiration from shamanistic traditions that revere trees as bridges between the Earth and the sky, the artist reimagined these forms as futuristic totems for Cosmic Trees.

Takashi Murakami for Louis Vuitton

During this year’s fair, the Maison celebrates Takashi Murakami’s work, displaying notably the large-scale sculptures ‘Zoucho-kun’ and ‘Tamon-kun,’ and the enigmatic ‘Superflat Jellyfish Eyes 1. Pieces the artist has created as part of his long-standing collaboration with Louis Vuitton were also on display at the Maison’s space at the fair.

SMAC Gallery

SMAC, the Cape Town-based gallery, showcased works by Wallen Mapondera and Kate Gottgens in a vibrant display that blurred the boundaries of reality. The booth was a symphony of colour, with both artists presenting evocative pieces rich in psychological and thematic depth.

Wallen Mapondera’s painted dreamscapes – featuring human figures and animal-like forms – explore the cultural psychology of the human-animal relationship. His work touches on social and political themes such as power, domination, hierarchy, and corruption.

In contrast, Kate Gottgens’ work delves into the psychological complexity of suburban life, examining the fluid tension between freedom and entrapment through domestic scenes and leisure-related imagery.

Blank Projects

The Cape Town-based gallery presented intricately crafted pieces by Igshaan Adams. His work often includes cultural and religious references and is used in conjunction with the exploration of surfaces and textures, namely thread, beads, wire, linoleum, cotton twine, and fabric. | artbasel.com

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