Our
Fourm
Location: Hong Kong, China
Date: May 16, 2024
Participants: 100
Topics: How new generation artists can increase their visibility
Hong Kong | Spotlight Forum at the 2nd Art Hong Kong
How Emerging Artists Gain Recognition — Perspectives from Collectors and Galleries
From May 16–19, 2024, during the 2nd Art Hong Kong (Hong Kong International Cultural and Creative Expo), the forum "How Emerging Artists Can Gain Recognition" drew significant attention from collectors, curators, and art institutions.
Moderated by renowned curator and A Manifesto founder Tingting Fang, the panel featured:
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Nuo Zhuang, Art Collector and Chairman of Baizhong Art Capital
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Xiaoxia Wang, Member of the National Expert Group on Fine Arts Education
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Yuxuan Ding, Young Collector and Senior Partner at Baizhong Art Capital
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Zheng Li, Founder of Gen Gallery (798, Beijing)
The discussion focused on how emerging artists can be discovered, how the market defines the “angel round” of an artist’s career, and how education, visibility, and persistence shape long-term success.
Tingting Fang:
“How should new-generation artists increase their visibility?”
Zheng Li:
Emerging artists need support—not only from themselves but also from curators, collectors, and gallery institutions. They should avoid prematurely entering institutional museum spaces and instead focus on artist-run spaces, primary-market galleries, and curated commercial environments that align with their language.
Three key strategies:
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Work with the right first-tier art organizations to build primary exposure.
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Make use of diversified media channels to continuously present their concepts and techniques.
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Actively participate in curated exhibitions that align with their vision.
Collector Yuxuan Ding:
“Personal style is the artist’s market ID.”
From the collector’s side, strong personal style and recognizability are paramount. Referencing masters like Fengmian Lin and Guanzhong Wu, Ding emphasized that visual distinctiveness builds memory and market value. She encouraged cross-disciplinary collaborations, brand partnerships, and consistent visibility—whether through shows or social platforms.
Collector Nuo Zhuang:
“Market defines the new generation—not birth years.”
Zhuang noted that in the 2023 secondary market Top 100 list, only two post-1990s artists appeared—Yitian Sun and Zipiao Zhang—indicating that true “emerging” status is earned through market recognition, not age.
His firm uses three core criteria to identify “angel round” artists:
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Solid academic foundation (often from China’s top eight fine art academies)
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Originality and unique visual language
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Professional discipline and work ethic
He also emphasized that female artists are particularly scarce in the secondary market and should be actively supported due to the systemic pressures they face balancing family and career. Interestingly, most standout post-90s artists in his database today are female.
Educator Xiaoxia Wang:
“Support must start in the classroom.”
Representing foundational arts education, Wang stressed that creative potential is most vibrant in adolescence. National-level programs now allow students to exhibit in professional venues like 798. Building curriculum platforms that encourage individuality and artistic confidence is key to cultivating the next generation.
On Risk, Value, and Time: A Gallery's Perspective
Zheng Li:
From a gallerist’s view, every artist is a “risk round” until proven otherwise. Gallery work starts long before an artist becomes visible—selection, curation, positioning, and network-building define success.
Unlike collectors seeking emotional or strategic investments, galleries build the infrastructure:
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Academic framing
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Market placement
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Strategic collaborations
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Early-phase buyouts to secure inventory before public breakout
He emphasized that sustainable growth trumps overnight fame. Fast inflation of an artist’s price—without institutional depth—can cap their long-term trajectory. Artists like Ke Ma, whose value curves rise steadily due to philosophical rigor and creative renewal, exemplify the kind of stable growth galleries prefer to support.
On Collecting with Intuition and Endurance
Nuo Zhuang:
He likened early-stage collecting to dating: “You fall for a work first by feeling, but you stay with it through understanding.” He cited personal stories—such as collecting Fengmian Lin because they once lived in the same neighborhood—and stressed the role of personal connection, regional affinity, and deep familiarity with the zeitgeist in guiding contemporary collections.
From the Female Collector’s Lens
Yuxuan Ding:
While acknowledging the stereotype of female collectors being more emotional, Ding emphasized her dual lens of sensibility and structure. She values:
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Technical foundation and academic background
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Cultural and global perspective
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The artist’s sense of responsibility and social resonance
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Long-term communicative energy between viewer and artwork
She argued that great works not only touch but energize the viewer—a quality that often signals future market potential.
Closing Reflections
Tingting Fang:
“The first step for any emerging artist is to develop a clear personal language. Then, find the right platform to make it heard.”
She emphasized the importance of international visibility, artistic self-definition, and deep aesthetic alignment. A Manifesto will continue spotlighting emerging voices—and is also committed to supporting disabled artists.
“We hope this platform helps global collectors recognize what’s truly original. Thank you for being part of this essential conversation.”