Weekly News Roundup: August 2, 2024

Warehouse-Turned-Museum Opens in Korea

A massive granary has been revitalized as a cultural landmark in the port city of Incheon, South Korea, welcoming Museum L as its latest tenant. Built in 1978, the 12,150-square-meter warehouse was once Asia’s largest, facilitating the storage and distribution of grain across Korea. As part of an initiative by LG HelloVision, a Korean telecommunications conglomerate, the depository was refurbished with a glass facade, original steel framework, and lofty ceilings. Museum L comprises three exhibition spaces, each focused on a specific medium: multisensory media art in the Immersive Hall, fine art in the Art Hall, and uniquely themed shows in the Special Hall. For its inauguration, the museum will hold three collaborative shows, including “Mona Lisa Immersive,” a digital exhibition which explores Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic painting; “Albertina Museum Collection: Alex Katz,” featuring 67 works by the American artist; and “Basketball: The Greatest Players 75,” displaying over 150 memorabilia from top NBA players. 

Lebanese Artist Wins Han Nefkens Foundation Grant 

Beirut-based writer and filmmaker Panos Aprahamian is the recipient of the USD 15,000 Han Nefkens Foundation—Museu Tàpies Video Art Production Grant 2024. Selected for “his sophisticated exploration of the spectral presence of the past and future,” Aprahamian will use the prize money to produce a new video artwork. The commission will be presented in 2026 with the award’s partner museums, including the NTU Centre for Contemporary Art (Singapore); WIELS (Brussels); Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (Manila); Jameel Arts Centre (Dubai); and Museo d’Arte Contemporanea Donnaregina (Naples). Alongside these institutions’ directors, the jury was chaired by Museu Tàpies director Imma Prieto, in the presence of Hilde Teerlinck and Alessandra Biscaro, the director and coordinator of the Han Nefkens Foundation, respectively. The Video Art Production Grant was set up by the Han Nefkens Foundation—a private, nonprofit organization founded by the eponymous Dutch writer—to support emerging Central and West Asian visual artists in their professional development.

Australian Art Prize Announces Winner

Hobart-based artist Zoe Grey is the recipient of the 2024 Hadley’s Art Prize for her work The Shape of Rock (2024). The judges, who hail from various Australian institutions, praised Grey’s dynamic painting of a seaside cliff inspired by her coastal hometown of Marrawah. Grey specializes in painting, drawing, collage, and ceramics, often “exploring personal relationships to place, and how we engage with the environment around us.” Along with the AUD 100,000 (USD 65,100) award, Grey received the AUD 1,000 (USD 651) Packing Room Prize, which is chosen by volunteers who help unpack the artwork submissions. Curator Amy Jackett stated that this year’s works highlighted “colonialism, environmental concerns, and celebrations of country.” Established in 2017 by Hadley’s Orient Hotel, Hobart, the annual art event supports emerging Australian landscape artists. An exhibition of the 35 finalists’ paintings will be on view at the hotel until August 25.

Bonhams Appoints New Global CEO 

The international auction house Bonhams has announced Chabi Nouri as its next global chief executive, succeeding Bruno Vinciguerra. The Swiss-born luxury retail and private equity specialist will assume her role in October this year at Bonham’s London headquarters on New Bond Street, overseeing the organization’s global business network. Nouri comes to Bonhams with years of industry experience: after graduating from Switzerland’s University of Fribourg, she began a decade-long career at Cartier, working in jewelry and watch management as well as retail merchandising. Previously, Nouri was the CEO of Richemont-owned watch and jewelry company Piaget for seven years, later joining the Swiss bank Mirabaud Group as a private equity partner. “I am delighted to be joining Bonhams,” Nouri stated, adding that she looks forward to contributing to the auction house’s global outreach and digital innovations. Founded in 1793, Bonhams is one of the four original Georgian London auction houses and was acquired by Epiris, a private equity firm, in 2018.

Asia Art Archive Appoints New Deputy Director

On July 26, independent nonprofit organization Asia Art Archive (AAA) announced the appointment of Sheryl Magdalene Lee as its new deputy director and head of advancement. In her new role, Lee will be responsible for supporting AAA’s leadership in strategy development, resource optimization, and advancement; this includes furthering the organization’s growth and initiatives by devising sustainable funding and resource acquisition strategies. With over two decades of experience in the arts and culture sector, Lee has held diverse roles in curatorial work, operational leadership, and partnership building, first in New York and then in Hong Kong. Lee currently serves on the boards of directors for various local organizations, including the nonprofit venue The Fringe Club, the music group Hong Kong New Music Ensemble, the charitable association Music Children Foundation, and the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. She is also the artistic advisor to the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology’s Shaw Auditorium. 

Hong Kong Cultural Hub Announces Rebrand 

On August 1, Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District unveiled its rebrand as “WestK,” a strategic effort to enhance its positioning as a “world-class cultural hub that proudly presents Hong Kong in the global arena.” The harborfront cultural quarter—home to the M+ museum, Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM), and Xiqu Centre for Chinese opera—also introduced a refined logo prominently featuring the letters “HK,” underscoring WestK's deep-rooted connection to the local community. Accompanying this brand makeover is the new tagline “Where Art Comes Alive,” which the district hopes will capture the inspirational and holistic cultural experiences it provides visitors. This announcement closely follows the Hong Kong Executive Council’s conditional approval of WestK’s financial restructuring proposal through the sale of residential property rights. Compounding this, the HKPM will raise its admission prices to HKD 70 (USD 9) next month, signaling the cash-strapped district’s upcoming focus on crucial infrastructure developments as it navigates impending fiscal and operational challenges.

Taiwanese Private Museum Faces Backlash for High Ticket Prices

Since its opening on May 4, Taipei’s Fubon Art Museum has faced criticism on social media for the entry price of its opening shows, set at NTD 1,200 (USD 37). Supported and managed by the Taiwanese financial services group Fubon Financial Holdings, which reported net profits of NTD 66 billion (USD 2 billion) last year, netizens questioned the perceived disconnect between the museum’s high admission fees and the substantial earnings of its parent organization. The museum’s chief executive and director Maggie Ueng, whose husband Richard Tsai is heir to the Fubon Group, justified the institution’s pricing strategy by citing the substantial transport and insurance costs involved in hosting its million-dollar exhibitions. The museum’s inaugural display comprises “In Touch: Collection of Fubon,” showcasing works by six prominent Chinese artists (including abstract artist Zao Wou-Ki) until August 5, and “True Nature: Rodin and the Age of Impressionism,” a collaboration with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art that will run until September 23.

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