In Conversation with Kiang Malingue Ahead of Art Basel Hong Kong

With a longstanding reputation as Asia’s dominant financial center, Hong Kong has emerged as an artistic metropolis, nurturing established and emerging artists to become major players on the global stage.

Ahead of Art Basel Hong Kong, Kiang Malingue Co-Founders Lorraine Kiang and Edouard Malingue discuss what they’ve learned from over a decade of experience operating within Hong Kong’s ever-iterating artistic community, growing a gallery that upholds the local scene with tenacity and pride. 

Take us back to the start, what is the origin story of your gallery?

Edouard and I met in Hong Kong in 2010, and that's also when we opened the gallery. We share a love of art history and many other things in life. It's been almost fifteen years now, and I am glad we are still growing with emerging and established artists, being exposed to art that fascinates us as much as it did back when we first came together.
Apichatpong Weerasethakul, 'A Planet of Silence'3. Installation shot of solo exhibition at Kiang Malingue, SikOn, 2022. Image courtesy of the artist and Kiang Malingue. Photo by Samson Wong Pak Hang.

What are the greatest challenges you have overcome?

It's always a challenge trying to broaden and deepen our engagement with the public. Be it a broader collector base or the general public. The social, political and cultural environments have changed drastically in recent years, so the public is also being redefined. It is imperative that we renew our understanding of their interests and concerns, the issues we have all been facing, actively responding and facilitating meaningful conversations.

“What is important is a good, consistent program with a distinct vision.”

How does your gallery reflect the local art scene in Hong Kong?

We work with a growing number of brilliant local artists, including Ko Sin Tung, Kwan Sheung Chi, Liu Yin, Ellen Pau, Wong Ping, Yeung Hok Tak and Samson Young. The list is only going to get longer, and we are dedicated to showcasing their art in Hong Kong and elsewhere, highlighting the delicate relationship between the practices and the contexts.

Installation shot of ‘Not retrospective’, Kwan Sheung Chi’s solo exhibition at Kiang Malingue, Tin Wan, 2023. Image courtesy of the artist and Kiang Malingue. Photo by Samson Wong Pak Hang.

Any tips for young and emerging galleries trying to make a name for themselves within Hong Kong’s art scene?

It's no different to make a name in Hong Kong or elsewhere. What is important is a good, consistent program with a distinct vision, one that takes risks and is able to grow with its artists.

Talk us through your programme for Art Basel Hong Kong in March.

Along with our presentation at the fair, showing recent works by more than 20 artists, we are also opening three exciting exhibitions: Liu Xiaohui's first exhibition in Hong Kong, featuring a new series of flower paintings; Fierce pussy founding member Carrie Yamaoka's first exhibition with Kiang Malingue and also her first exhibition in Asia, showing meticulous painterly-photographic-sculptural objects that capture their environment as much as they absorb through mirroring surfaces; and Wong Ping's solo exhibition that includes a number of large-scale installations and sculptures, new films and a typically goofy performance at the opening. Inspired by Bataille's The Solar Anus, this is Wong's first Hong Kong solo exhibition since his last show at the gallery in 2017, following shows at international institutions such as the Museum of Applied Arts, Vienna (2023); The Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth (2022); Kunsthall Stavanger, Stavanger (2022); New Museum, New York (2021); Camden Arts Centre, London (2019); and Kunsthalle Basel, Basel(2019), among others.
Installation shot of ‘Controflow’, Tromarama’s, solo exhibition at Kiang Malingue, Tin Wan, 2023. Image courtesy of artist and Kiang Malingue. Photo by Samson Wong Pak Hang.

“Artlogic is very convenient for us. It makes presenting artwork easy wherever you are.”

What are your top recommendations for visitors coming to Hong Kong during art week?

I recommend visiting M+, Tai Kwun, the Mills, eating local dim sum, wonton and fishball noodles—as Chang Ya-Chin would—visit a temple and light an incense there.

As a gallerist, how has using Artlogic improved your day-to-day life?

Artlogic is very convenient for us. It makes presenting artwork easy wherever you are, especially during art fairs or meetings. It also makes teamwork spontaneous and efficient.

If you could go back and give yourself one piece of advice at the start of your career, what would it be?

Don’t do too much in one go, one step at a time.

Use Artlogic to succeed at your next fair. 
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