HONG KONG (Taiwan News) — Angelle Siyang-Le, the director of Art Basel Hong Kong (ABHK), has observed a shift toward “thoughtful collecting,” noting that a new wave of buyers now enters the market with the deliberate intent of building a lasting legacy.
Siyang-Le said that the energy of the 2026 edition is rooted in a return to the human element of the industry regardless of the shifting global landscape.
"Considering what is happening around the world, collectors really like the energy here," Siyang-Le said. "People are not just talking about sales, they are also engaging in real exchanges about art."
Those exchanges have been bolstered by a strong international presence, particularly from US institutions. Siyang-Le said a significant influx of museum representatives and curators from the US West Coast, signaled Hong Kong’s enduring role as a vital bridge in the global art ecosystem.
While ABHK is a primary marketplace for the region, Siyang-Le is positioning the fair as an intersection for the industry. Under her leadership, the event is expanding its scope beyond traditional visual media to include digital art, architecture and the performing arts.
"This transcends the 'art world' and turns it into a 'world of art,'" she said. By collaborating with organizations such as the Hong Kong Ballet, the fair is introducing cultural elements that challenge the standard trade-show setting.
“We prioritize the quality of exchanges provided on this platform and the depth of those interactions,” Siyang-Le said.
Siyang-Le has observed a significant shift in buyer behavior, characterized by what she calls "thoughtful collecting." This trend is driven by a new wave of collectors — not necessarily younger in age, but new to the field — who enter the market with a long-term vision.
"These collectors come into the picture from other fields, such as antiquities," Siyang-Le said.
"They collect with a purpose: to build an identity for their collection and give it a legacy. This more thoughtful approach is a significant and positive behavioral shift," according to Siyang-Le.
When asked what advice she would offer to those looking to build a resilient portfolio in an uncertain economy, Siyang-Le was blunt: stop looking at the price tag.
"Collecting for investment purposes is never something that we encourage," she said. “The art market is a sentimental market. You can never really count on whether an artwork is going to raise prices in the next few years or even the next decade.”
“If you are banking on art as an investment, you might as well invest in the stock market,” per Siyang-Le.
Instead, she urges collectors to pursue an emotional connection. “Storytelling is what builds the myth, and the myth is what contributes to the value of the artwork. You have to be able to tell a story from the works you purchase.”
As competing art fairs emerge across the Asia-Pacific region, Siyang-Le remains confident in ABHK’s competitive edge. She attributes the fair’s longevity to its commitment to nurturing the broader culture.
"Longevity comes from across-the-board high awareness of art and culture," she said. “We are committed to nurturing the next generation to understand the power of art as a universal language.”
