At the recently ended Art Basel Hong Kong in May, Singapore’s Chan Hampe Galleries sold all their exhibiting works even before fair’s official opening. The works were a series of 16 mysterious wooden chests that formed an installation, and had been created by Singaporean artist Dawn Ng specially for the fair.

“The work [Sixteen] was received exceptionally well for a couple of reasons,” says Benjamin Milton Hampe, co-owner and Director of Chan Hampe Galleries. “Firstly, I think it was due its scale. It has immediate visual impact. But because there is text infused into the work, you also need to get close and intimate with it. It [offers a] multi-layered experience.

The chests are crafted to resemble treasure boxes, which fit one inside the other. On the first and largest box are the words: “If you open this box it will change your life”. Inside, each chest contains a surprising turning point in itself, determining the places one goes, the people one meets and the experiences one has. It is an exercise that tries to make sense of all the real and metaphorical roads one takes, and those one leaves behind.

This is the third time that Chan Hampe Galleries has participated in the fair – the first two being under its predecessor, Art HK – and Benjamin says that while the gallery has always had a good experience at the fair, the exposure they received in this round has been “unprecedented”

“We met a lot of international art media who were very interested in Dawn’s work… and we had a lot of collectors from all around the world coming to ask questions about the work and the gallery.”

“You have a very good reach amongst very serious collectors… when you’re involved with the Basel brand,” says Benjamin.

Chan Hampe Galleries
chanhampegalleries.com

Art Basel HK
artbasel.com/en/Hong-Kong