\r\n \r\n Related Articles\r\n <\/span>\r\n
\r\n Lifestyle <\/div>\r\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/gqhongkong.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/ABHK_EN_Group1-1024x682.jpg\")
Led by Mami Kataoka, Director of Tokyo\u2019s Mori Art Museum, the curatorial team includes Isabella Tam, Curator of Visual Art at M+ in Hong Kong; Alia Swastika, independent curator, researcher, and writer based in Jakarta; and Hirokazu Tokuyama, Senior Curator at Mori Art Museum. In an interview with GQ Hong Kong, Tokuyama emphasized that the collective curatorship was born out of a desire to amplify the \u201cintimate relationships\u201d each curator shares with the artists. \u201cThe most appealing aspect of collaboration is how each curator\u2019s unique connection with the artists brings special elements to the exhibition. Through this partnership, we discover new perspectives and voices, and the resonance created together far exceeds the sum of individual efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Coming from different cities and backgrounds\u2014Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Jakarta\u2014the four curators naturally bring a richer, more multi-layered dimension to the selection of works. The highlight of this year\u2019s Encounters is its conceptual core inspired by the \u201cFive Elements.\u201d For centuries, the Five Elements have formed a central framework in Asian cosmology, shaping philosophical thought by reminding us of the interdependence between different values, relationships, and the flow of invisible energies. In today\u2019s world, marked by extreme turbulence, division, and frequent conflicts, this ancient wisdom may offer valuable insights into the possibility of coexistence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n GQ: Encounters emphasizes immersive and performative works. What kind of experience do you hope visitors will have in this section?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Hirokazu Tokuyama: Although the booth spaces are inherently limited, large-scale installation works can create an experience within the art fair that feels closer to that of a museum. By contrasting public and private spaces, immersive experiences and broader vistas, visitors can move through different environments. For example, Nobuya Hoki\u2019s work extends from two-dimensional surfaces into three-dimensional space, allowing viewers to walk inside the piece and experience it from multiple angles, leading to fresh artistic insights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a senior curator at the Mori Art Museum, how did your experience influence the selection of works this time?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n At the Mori Art Museum, I have the opportunity to curate cross-disciplinary exhibitions that go beyond contemporary art to include architecture, design, technology, and traditional crafts. This diversity has always been a driving force in expanding my perspective. For Encounters this year, I particularly wanted to introduce something new, such as Masaomi Yasunaga\u2019s ceramic works and Christine Sun Kim\u2019s spatial installations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Could you share some of the highlights of this year\u2019s Encounters sector?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In terms of material innovation, Masaomi Yasunaga\u2019s works stand out. Ceramics is a medium with a long history, yet he creates entirely new forms and textures through his use of glazes, transcending the boundaries between craft and art. He deeply researches traditional techniques and their possibilities, developing a completely new sculptural language. Additionally, works that expand from painting into installation and sculpture are worth noting\u2014they extend from the wall into the entire spatial environment, allowing viewers to experience the art from multiple perspectives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Looking ahead, what long-term impact do you hope this experiment in collective curatorship will leave on Encounters or the future of Art Basel Hong Kong?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I hope visitors will reflect on the interdependence and harmony symbolized by the philosophy of the Five Elements. In today\u2019s world full of division and conflict, this ancient wisdom may point toward the possibility of different values coexisting. Furthermore, the expansion of spatial experience\u2014from ancient cave paintings to religious architecture\u2014has always been at the core of art. Contemporary installation art is now using technology and new materials to reconstruct such experiences, and I believe this trend will continue in increasingly diverse forms. At the same time, I hope this model of collaborative curatorship will open up more possibilities for future editions of Art Basel Hong Kong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/gqhongkong.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/City_Lantern__2025__Suzann_Victor__EN12_HiRes-1024x683.jpg\")
Courtesy of the artist and Gajah Gallery.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/gqhongkong.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/SK_247_Mountain___autumn__23_02__1___2__HiRes-683x1024.jpg\")
Courtesy of Suki Seokyeong Kang Scholarship of Ewha Womans University and Kukje Gallery
Photo: Chunho An, provided by Kukje Gallery<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/gqhongkong.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Parag_Tandel__Talisman_for_Coastal_Futures_8__2024._Courtesy_of_t_HiRes-1-719x1024.jpg\")
Courtesy of the artist and Tarq.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/gqhongkong.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/HB25_Geraldine_Javier_Vallisaari_40__1__HiRes.jpg\")
Courtesy of the artist and Silverlens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/gqhongkong.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/ABHK_EN_curator_Hirokazu_Tokuyama_HiRes-819x1024.jpg\")
\r\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/gqhongkong.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/LOUIS-VUITTON-MENrsquoS-FALL-WINTER-2026-EMPTY-SET-6-1024x683.jpg\"){kind=spacer}
<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/article>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \n\n ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/gqhongkong.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/01_Stair-Garden_EditedREV-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/article>\r\n <\/div>\r\n ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"