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London-based contemporary art gallery, Ben Brown Fine Arts, opened its first overseas art gallery today (November 25) in Hong Kong.
Ben Brown Fine Arts, owned and operated by Hong Kong-born Ben Brown, specialises in multi-disciplinary, high-end Western contemporary arts. With two established spaces in London's Mayfair district, the Hong Kong gallery is the third venture by Mr Brown and his first outside of the UK. Located in Pedder Building in Central, the Hong Kong gallery will open with a group show that features works by several world-renowned artists including Andy Warhol, Gerhard Richter and Pablo Picasso.
Director of Ben Brown Fine Arts Hong Kong, Ms Tamsin Roberts, said, "The launch comes at a time of great cultural effervescence in Hong Kong, with the city firmly establishing itself on the global art map. The increasing array of arts and culture initiatives, such as ART HK and the West Kowloon Cultural District project, make the city the perfect location for the gallery's Western arts programme."
She continued, "After two very successful shows in Hong Kong, it is a natural progression for Ben Brown Fine Arts to open a permanent gallery, allowing us to fully engage with the local artistic scene and make the most of the expertise Ben Brown has gathered over the years with regards to this sophisticated market."
The gallery is holding concurrently its inaugural exhibition at International Finance Centre (IFC). The solo show of 14 works by internationally renowned sculptor Ron Arad follows Arad's successful retrospectives at the Pompidou Centre in Paris and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Both Ben Brown and Ron Arad will be in Hong Kong for the launch of the show and will be hosting several events at the gallery and in the IFC space to celebrate the openings of the gallery and exhibition.
Director-General of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong, Mr Simon Galpin, said, "Hong Kong is the third largest art auction market in the world and is fast becoming a global art commerce hub, a fact underscored by the development of the West Kowloon Cultural District. We are pleased that a renowned art enthusiast such as Ben Brown has chosen his birth place as a central point from which to expand into the Asian region."
About Ben Brown Fine Arts
Ben Brown Fine Arts is an art gallery specialising in multi-disciplinary, high-end Western contemporary arts. It will exhibit an eclectic programme of Western and international art, with an emphasis on post-war American and Italian art. For more information, please visit www.benbrownfinearts.com.
About Invest Hong Kong
Invest Hong Kong is the department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government responsible for Foreign Direct Investment, supporting overseas, Mainland and Taiwanese businesses to set up and expand in Hong Kong. We provide free advice and customised services to help your business succeed in our vibrant economy. For more information, please visit www.investhk.gov.hk.
Ends/Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Issued at HKT 14:19
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