UPDATE: this article was updated on 28 January to reflect the postponement of Gallery Weekend Beijing 2021 from March to 23 April to 2 May Singapore’s borders are open only to residents and permit holders, subject to quarantine Lauryn Ishak/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Mass distribution of Covid-19 vaccines has begun around Asia, but with restricted borders and strict quarantine regimes for travellers still the norm, the resumption of art fairs this spring is being thrown into doubt.
At the time of writing, a few events planned to forge ahead, such as Singapore art week and the third edition of S.E.A. Focus fair (until 31 January). But Art Fair Philippines, usually held in February, has been postponed as a “mainly digital platform”, says its co-founder Trickie Lopa. Then, all eyes are on Art Basel in Hong Kong (ABHK), which has moved its 2021 fair from March to 21 to 23 May. But that is still contingent upon resumption of some international travel to the c