Galerie Perrotin: Not to be Missed at Art Basel in Hong Kong (or Anywhere Else)

Say the name “Perrotin” in any city and it means the same: with locations in New York City, Hong Kong, and its native Paris, the gallery has a reputation forged by Parisian power dealer Emmanuel Perrotin for trendspotting (Perrotin launched the careers of now-artist-superstars Damien Hirst, Takashi Murakami, and Maurizio Cattelan) and hosting increasingly hip parties and exhibitions. Last September, the gallery inaugurated its brand new NYC location with a 1,000-person carnival-themed fête spanning all four floors of the Russian Tea Room; months later, Art Basel in Miami Beach-goers danced under the stars at the floating, snow-covered Swiss chalet Perrotin commissioned by French art duo Kolkoz; and currently, the art world awaits the launch of Perrotin’s new Paris space and a premier exhibition curated by art and music darling, Pharrell Williams.

So how does one gallerist reach so far around the world? It helps to have emissaries in every city, like Alice Lung and Etsuko Nakajima, the ultra-chic (see portrait) directors of Galerie Perrotin in Hong Kong, who we had a chance to speak to in the lead up to Art Basel in Hong Kong. Since the space opened in 2012—with an exhibition by American neo-pop artist KAWS—the gallery has put forth an honorable 24 exhibitions, though it could be argued that Perrotin’s involvement with the Asian art scene began long before. “Galerie Perrotin has long-term relationships and collaborations with Asian artists,” the gallerists note; in particular, Murakami, who first showed with Perrotin in 1993 and for whom Perrotin gave his first commercial exhibition outside of Japan. “Some artists at the gallery already have strong links with Asia,” they add, such as Sophie Calle, Wim Delvoye, and Jean-Michel Othoniel, all of whose works will be shown in Perrotin’s Art Basel in Hong Kong booth.

At the fair, the gallery will present over 20 artists, including two who will be concurrently featured in solo exhibitions at Perrotin’s Hong Kong space. In the main gallery, French contemporary artist Jean-Michel Othoniel’s “Monumental Sculptures” will include three knot sculptures made in collaboration with a Feng Shui master, and a fourth will be on view at the fair. At the same time, the gallery presents Ryan McGinley’s first solo show in China, “Vertical Color of Sound,” featuring images from one of the photographer’s infamous summer road trips, notably his colorful fireworks photos, one of which will be shown at Art Basel in Hong Kong. 

Visit Galerie Perrotin at Art Basel in Hong Kong 2014, Galleries, Booth 1B15, May 15th – 18th, and follow the gallery on Artsy.

Portrait of Etsuko Nakajima (left) and Alice lung (right) by Laurent Segretier