Art World Adapts to Pandemic: Fairs Cancel, Pivot Online, and Awards Announced
In early March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic led to significant cancellations and rescheduling within the art community. Tefaf Maastricht shut down prematurely after an exhibitor tested positive for the virus, while the Dark Mofo festival in Hobart, Tasmania was completely canceled, although Bon Iver's June concerts remained on the calendar. The Armory Show rescheduled for September 2021 at New York's Javits Center, coinciding with an expanded Berlin Gallery Weekend. Art Power HK, an online sales initiative, was introduced by Hong Kong galleries. Several awards were given: Alfredo Jaar received the Hasselblad photography prize, and Emma Talbot won the Max Mara Prize for Women. The Australian Institute for Machine Learning and Sia Furler Institute launched Art Intelligence, featuring Laurie Anderson. Over 680 UK arts professionals protested the government's exit from Creative Europe. Brazilian artist Nelson Leirner passed away, and Anthony Lister faced rape charges. Museums in Austria and Poland, as well as the Metropolitan Museum and major US galleries, closed. Printed Matter canceled the LA Art Book Fair, and auction houses for Asia Week New York postponed sales until June.
Key facts
- Tefaf Maastricht closed early due to COVID-19 case
- Dark Mofo festival canceled, Bon Iver shows still scheduled
- Armory Show moving to September 2021 at Javits Center
- Hong Kong galleries launched Art Power HK online platform
- Alfredo Jaar won Hasselblad photography prize
- Hikaru Fujii and Chikako Yamashiro won Tokyo Contemporary Art Award
- Art Intelligence AI-artist program launched with Laurie Anderson
- Over 680 UK arts professionals protested Creative Europe withdrawal
Entities
Artists
- Nelson Leirner
- Christine Wang
- Andreas Gursky
- Katharina Grosse
- Miriam Cahn
- Victor Man
- Cathy Wilkes
- Alfredo Jaar
- Hikaru Fujii
- Chikako Yamashiro
- Emma Talbot
- Laurie Anderson
- Anthony Lister
- Leiko Ikemura
- David Walsh
- Leigh Carmichael
- Oliver Dowden
- Anton van den Hengel
Institutions
- The Armory Show
- Javits Center
- Night Gallery
- Asia Society Hong Kong Center
- Art Power HK
- Asia Art Archive
- Axel Vervoordt Gallery
- Bonhams
- CHAT (Centre for Heritage Arts & Textiles)
- China Guardian Hong Kong
- de Sarthe Gallery
- University of Hong Kong
- Galerie Ora-Ora
- Hong Kong Art Gallery Association
- Hong Kong Palace Museum
- M+
- Para Site
- White Cube
- Xiqu Centre
- Berlin Gallery Weekend
- Berlin Art Week
- Hasselblad
- Dark Mofo
- Museum of Old and New Art
- Creative Europe
- Tokyo Contemporary Art Award
- Tokyo Metropolitan Government
- Tokyo Arts and Space
- Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo
- Max Mara Prize
- Australian Institute for Machine Learning
- Sia Furler Institute
- University of Adelaide
- Art Intelligence
- Murmur
- Tefaf Maastricht
- The Art Newspaper
- Printed Matter
- LA Art Book Fair
- Geffen Contemporary
- LA MOCA
- Asia Week
- Metropolitan Museum
- National Art Center, Tokyo
- Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award
Locations
- Hell's Kitchen
- Manhattan
- New York City
- New York
- Hong Kong
- Berlin
- Germany
- Hobart
- Tasmania
- Australia
- UK
- EU
- Iceland
- Norway
- Albania
- Serbia
- London
- England
- Adelaide
- Maastricht
- Netherlands
- Los Angeles
- California
- USA
- Austria
- Poland
- Tokyo
- Japan
- Switzerland
- Brazil