As an enticing preamble to Asia’s preeminent contemporary art fair, Art HK 11, on tap later this week, Gagosian Gallery will offer up an exhibition of work from Richard Prince at their Central Hong Kong space. Opening Tuesday, May 24th, the show will mark the first solo exhibition in Asia for the iconic, if not controversial, photographer, painter, and serial reappropriator, as seen through his infamous “rephotograph” series. It is this penchant for reappropriation that has defined, and at times troubled, his artistic career, most recently with the loss of a major fair use case filed against Prince, Gagosian, and host of affiliates by photographer Patrick Cariou. Much like his current exhibition in Paris, this Hong Kong showing should cover a wide swath of Prince’s catalog, with a focus on his various Untitled photographs – like the above Girlfriends series – as well as Nurse overpaintings, all chronicling such signature themes of luxury, celebrity, fantasy, and sexuality. Without question, the Asian market, with their near insatiable appetite and limitless resources for contemporary art, will serve as the perfect venue for an artist like Richard Prince.
