Para Site Appoints James Taylor-Foster as Director, Sparking Debate in Hong Kong

James Taylor-Foster, a curator of architecture and design with little prior presence in Asia, has been appointed as the incoming director of Para Site in Hong Kong, raising questions among local artists and curators about the selection criteria and the future direction of the institution. The announcement came during Art Basel Hong Kong, where the choice was met with surprise given Taylor-Foster's lack of regional curatorial experience. Meanwhile, Philip Tinari, former director and CEO of UCCA in Beijing, has been appointed to lead Tai Kwun, Hong Kong's heritage arts center, succeeding Pi Li, who has become the founding director of the Tencent-funded Róng Museum of Art in Shenzhen. These appointments highlight ongoing debates about colonial legacies and diversity in Asia's art institutions.