Not even the short sellers expected Covid-19 to rage on past 2020. Much of the art world was ecstatic last November when big pharma announced the effectiveness of coronavirus vaccines. Gallerists, curators, and artists alike began anticipating the resumption of the global cultural roadshow consisting of art fairs, auctions, and biennials. Yet since January, with second, third, and fourth Covid waves hitting countries big and small, those hopeful fantasies, especially for art-fair organizers, have been squashed.

In January, galleries that normally salivate when contemplating ever-eager Taiwanese collectors were fielding calls from the Dangdai fair co-founder and co-director, Magnus Renfrew. First he was reminding them that Dangdai was rescheduled to July—because its original May dates collided with Art Basel Hong Kong’s move to the very same week. Secondly, Renfrew was enticing potential exhibitors with a free cancellation, money-back guarantee if travel went off the rails by summer. A good incentive or wishful thinking?