Art Basel lands big

Art Basel is adding a sector called “Echoes,” described by the fair as a focused presentation of works created within the past five years. (artasiapacific.com) The Encounters program will present 12 large-scale projects and is curated by a four‑person collective led by Mami Kataoka alongside Isabella Tam, Alia Swastika and Hirokazu Tokuyama, drawing on a Five Elements framework in its commissioning and site plans. (voguehk.com) Art Basel’s organizer says participating galleries span 41 countries and territories and that just over half of the exhibitors operate spaces inside the Asia‑Pacific region, including 29 galleries with physical venues in Hong Kong. (d2u3kfwd92fzu7.cloudfront.net) The fair will host Zero 10 — Art Basel’s new curated platform for digital art that debuted at Art Basel Miami Beach and was organized under curator Eli Scheinman with support from OpenSea — marking Zero 10’s Asia debut at the Hong Kong edition. (artbasel.com) Organizers report dozens of first‑time participants this year (about 32 newcomers) and list roughly 182 participants slotted into the main Galleries sector, reflecting a mix of established and emerging dealers. (thebeat.asia) Several established galleries that showed in prior years are absent from the line‑up this edition, with names called out in reporting including Acquavella, Bortolami, Thomas Dane and Michael Werner among others. (briefly.co) Art Basel’s public materials also highlight a city‑wide program and name UBS as the fair’s Global Lead Partner, with coordinated off‑site projects and guided itineraries across Hong Kong during fair week. (ubs.com)