IN THE MIDST OF COVID-19, CHINESE GALLERIES ADAPT AND PERSEVERE

Sonia Xie

Installation view of “Tianzhuo Chen: Backstage Boys” and “Lu Yang: Debut” at BANK, 2019. Courtesy of BANK.

Since the viral outbreak of COVID-19 in China in January, the art world has come to a sudden halt. With major museums, fairs, and galleries canceling events and exhibitions all over the world, the industry as a whole is experiencing the strain of the global pandemic. However, it is easy to forget how the gallery ecosystem in China felt the first, immediate impacts of COVID-19.

Art Basel in Hong Kong, arguably the biggest art world event in Asia, was set to open to VIPs on March 18th. When the fair was canceled early last month, it was the first major industry event to be stricken from the calendar—sending reverberations through the country and the art market at large.

Artsy spoke to over 20 galleries in order to examine how the gallery ecosystem has been altered by COVID-19 and how many dealers are coping with the impact the virus has made on the art industry in China.

https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-midst-covid-19-chinese-galleries-adapt-persevere?utm_medium=email&utm_source=19748975-newsletter-editorial-daily-03-17-20&utm_campaign=editorial&utm_content=st-V