false

The legendary gallerist and curator on forty years of radical art and why Hong Kong is more relevant than ever 

Meet Johnson Chang, the man who put Chinese contemporary art on the global map

Few have done more for the critical appreciation of Chinese contemporary art than Chang Tsong Zung (Johnson Chang). Hanart TZ’s charismatic founding director opened his first space in Hong Kong over 40 years ago, in 1977. But in many ways, ‘gallerist’ is too narrow a description for Chang’s long-standing commitment to the visual arts. An academic – currently guest professor at Hangzhou’s China Academy of Art – as well as an independent curator, Chang is behind a slew of exhibitions such as ‘The Stars: 10 Years’ (1989) and ‘China’s New Art, Post-1989’ (1993) which are widely considered as turning points in the West’s awareness and interest in art from the region. He has been instrumental in increasing the visibility of such now-stellar artists as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.artbasel.com/catalog/artist/15665/Fanzhi-Zeng" target="_blank">Zeng Fanzhi</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.artbasel.com/catalog/artist/9057/Zhang-Xiaogang" target="_blank">Zhang Xiaogang</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.artbasel.com/catalog/artist/41994/Liu-Wei" target="_blank"> Liu Wei</a>. Together with Claire Hsu, Chang also founded Hong Kong’s influential institution,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.artbasel.com/news/asia-art-archive-hong-kong" target="_blank"> Asia Art Archive</a>. In this new episode of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaQumXw0FTLeELdbGsQ-RIPcKv7aq3Gl9" target="_blank"> Meet the Gallerists</a>, Chang recalls creating a stage for artists at a time when few spaces were available to them – and discusses how his mission has evolved to this day. He says of Hanart TZ: ‘I want to use this platform to promote aspects of contemporary art that are the future, and artists who give us a sense of the cultural direction of China and Hong Kong.’Hanart TZ will exhibit in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.artbasel.com/hong-kong/exhibitors#13063" target="_blank">Galleries</a> sector at Art Basel Hong Kong 2019.Director: Luke Casey Director of photography: Sadie Granberg Sound: Amos Ho Assistant Camera: Jacky Shea Color: Lee Butcher Production: Art Basel&nbsp;

Log in and subscribe to receive Art Basel Stories directly in your inbox.

The artist meets up with New Models’ Caroline Busta and @LILINTERNET ahead of Art Basel Hong Kong

Juliana Huxtable on zoosexuality, furries, and the fetishization of outrage

Find out about the institutions, galleries, and artists that made history – and plan your Art Basel week

How Hong Kong became a buzzing global art hub

In the Discoveries sector, young artists from Myanmar to New Zealand will shed light on what defines us in surprising new ways

Five to watch: Tomorrow’s voices come of age at Art Basel Hong Kong

VIDEOM - Video Module

Promotional module

Text Module

AB NL

Signpost module

The legendary gallerist and curator on forty years of radical art and why Hong Kong is more relevant than ever