News.Life

The director of Asia's largest contemporary art fair on finding her voice through art and immersing herself in the artistic community
<p>
 During my early years, I lived in Mainland China. My mother often brought me along as she traveled across various regions for work. Her career spanned several fields including journalism, trade, and publishing. The precise sequence of her professional endeavors remains unclear to me, but I do recall our frequent moves among these places.
 <a href="https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/article/1395783/vicious-cycle-shenzhen-shanghai-two-wheels" title="">
  Shanghai, Shenzhen
 </a>
 And Nanning, close to the Vietnamese border. When I was about 12 years old, I was dispatched to England. Similar to numerous youngsters during that era, I was among the group of children who were sent overseas for education.
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<h3>
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  Luck of the draw
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<p>
 In primary school, we were encouraged to maintain a journal. I recall my teacher mentioning, "There's no need to begin your diary with '
 jintian
 'Today, you could begin by illustrating your day, adding a touch of creativity.' I must have been around eight or nine at the time. Personally, I preferred painting my days over merely documenting events that took place.
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<h3>
 <strong>
  Finding a forte
 </strong>
</h3>
<p>
 Back when I was in mainland China, fields like art were not seen as legitimate subjects—anything beyond literature and science took a back seat. Consequently, it wasn’t until I relocated to England that I discovered my passion for art and design. It was only after being awarded a scholarship for my A-Level art studies that I thought to myself, “Maybe this could actually turn into a viable career.”
</p>
<p>
 Are you looking for insights into the most significant issues and global trends? Find your answers here.
 <a href="https://www.scmp.com/knowledge">
  SCMP Knowledge
 </a>
 Our latest platform offers handpicked content including explainers, FAQs, analyses, and infographics, all provided by our acclaimed team.
</p>
<h3>
 <strong>
  Express permission
 </strong>
</h3>
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<p>
 When I was around 15 or 16 years old, my teacher brought to my attention
 <a href="https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/1456251/exhibition-reveals-paris-through-alberto-giacomettis-work" title="">
  Alberto Giacometti's work
 </a>
 His creations aren’t particularly straightforward— they’re neither visually stunning nor vibrantly colored. However, I found myself intrigued by the backstory and reasons behind this artist’s production of such somber pieces. The weightiness present in both his paintings and sculptures struck me. For me, this represented the duality of what art can signify. Art isn’t merely about pleasant aspects of life; rather, it serves as an expressive medium and a historical record. This realization encouraged me to embrace art differently, viewing it through the lens of personal narrative and cultural documentation.
</p>
<h3>
 <strong>
  Master plan
 </strong>
</h3>
<p>
 My mom wasn’t supportive of my decision to pursue a fine arts degree. She felt that I should opt for something related to art, but with better prospects for employment. As a result, I went ahead with that alternative.
 <a href="https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3261745/70-extraordinary-hong-kong-buildings-and-urban-spaces-designed-local-architects-feature-new-book" title="">
  urban design and planning
 </a>
 at University College London, where I received an unconditional offer to continue my master's. I negotiated with my mother again to do art history for my master's because I had architectural history as a foundation.
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<h3>
 <strong>
  Goodbye, Gagosian
 </strong>
</h3>
<p>
 During my master’s program, I worked in galleries and also interned at the Pinta Art Fair. Later, I received an invitation from the Gagosian to serve as a registrar. However, I chose to join my then boyfriend, who was living in Dubai, turning down the opportunity offered by Gagosian to relocate there with him.
</p>
<h3>
 <strong>
  Hello, Dubai
 </strong>
</h3>
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<p>
 The first time I went to Dubai, sometime between 2008 and 2009, the city was just starting to develop its modern art scene. I searched for galleries but could find only one or two. After interning at Art Dubai, I started looking into various possibilities, which led me to meet an individual named Rami Farook, who happened to be a private collector. He gave me employment. At that point, I informed my mom with these words: “I’ve landed a position in Dubai.”
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<h3>
 <strong>
  Moving on up
 </strong>
</h3>
<p>
 I applied to
 <a href="https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3266349/hong-kong-tourism-board-seals-3-year-deal-art-basel-showcase-city-world-stage" title="">
  Art Basel
 </a>
 Since I learned about the plan for a new exhibition opening in Hong Kong back in 2012, I decided to apply, not really expecting anything from it. However, I received a phone call the very next day. Before long, within just three weeks, I found myself relocating to Hong Kong.
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<h3>
 <strong>
  Community spirit
 </strong>
</h3>
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<p>
 <a href="https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3212755/call-dad-instead-art-basel-hong-kong-director-societys-expectations-women-soft-power-and-hong-kongs" title="">
  Upon my arrival in Hong Kong
 </a>
 When I initially came to Dubai, the art world had significantly expanded compared to my early days there. However, the strong feeling of camaraderie, where everyone supported one another, remained comfortably recognizable, making the adjustment smooth. From Rami, I understood the significance of having a supportive community, which has stayed with me ever since. Over this span of 13 years, I believe I have developed alongside Hong Kong’s artistic circle.
</p>
<h3>
 <strong>
  In the family
 </strong>
</h3>
<p>
 I am blessed with two kids who live surrounded by art, which wasn’t always the case for me. Since they were infants, we've attended Art Basel together. When my eldest child arrived in early February, the next big event at this exhibition was just around the corner in March. Even as a newborn only one month old, he joined us at his inaugural Art Basel show. This has been an ongoing tradition ever since.
 My children exhibit remarkable creativity through painting; each expresses themselves freely without being confined by notions of correctness or error regarding artistic principles. For these young ones, engaging with art seems almost innate—a natural aspect woven into their essence from birth.
</p>
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  Chinese internet celebrity Li Hangze, known as a "big eater," reveals to her 35 million followers that she is actually male.
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</p>
<p>
 The article initially appeared on the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), which serves as the premier source for news coverage of China and Asia.
</p>
<p>
 Copyright © 2025. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
</p>

Angelle Siyang-Le's Journey to Art Basel Hong Kong: An International Edition

Unknown art, art history, asia, news, visual arts

The director of Asia's largest contemporary art fair on finding her voice through art and immersing herself in the artistic community During my early years, I lived in Mainland China. My mother often…

<p>
 <strong>
  Az UNESCO 1999-ben elfogadta a Dichterday-jet vagy a Napot a Díszeseinek Világakadémia, amely március 21-én van ünnepelve. Ezt Marocco kormánya javasolta bevezetendővé. A cél ennek felhívása az emberi természete nagyszerűségére, beleértve a diktatóriumok idején is fennmaradt irodalmat és verseket. Az esemény arra töri magát, hogy kiemelje együttesen a költemények hatásait, közvetlenül a versművertek mellett, de olyan formákra is vonható figyelmet, mint például a rap, hip-hop stb., akik szerint sokféle lehetőséget adnak új generációnak, hogy saját hangukon éljenek el ezen időszakban.
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  A dalszerzői mesterség varázsa, mintha tengervilág lenne, ahogy nincs eszköz az Ősi Úr kegyelmében annak alvó diepteinek feloldásához. Másvilág, bár tagja a jelen Világnak. Ez a lehetőség számunkra.
 </p>
 <span>
  - Balázs F. Attila
 </span>
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Szerezzen örömtiszta szívünkre: Heti ítéletrendezés – A költészet világnapján kiválasztott kedvenceink

Unknown art, art history, culture, heritage, visual arts

Az UNESCO 1999-ben elfogadta a Dichterday-jet vagy a Napot a Díszeseinek Világakadémia, amely március 21-én van ünnepelve. Ezt Marocco kormánya javasolta bevezetendővé. A cél ennek felhívása az e…