Curagenda Presents Art Basel Hong Kong & Beijing VIP Insider Art Expedition

Curagenda, a leader in high-end travel experiences for the contemporary art world, is delighted to announce its inaugural four-city art expedition to coincide with the fifth edition of Art Basel Hong Kong. The Art Basel Hong Kong and Beijing Art Expedition will offer a 2-part 9-day journey, with 5 days in Hong Kong, 4 days in Beijing, and a 1-day Pearl River Delta excursion. The experience will include an insider Hong Kong VIP program, expert guided trip to Beijing, and a special tour to Shenzhen and Guangzhou. This exceptional art travel program put together by Curagenda Specialists will feature citywide highlights of Art Basel's VIP program, as well as insider events from tastemakers in Hong Kong, and the best of contemporary art and cultural heritage in Beijing.

"Curagenda wants to show the diversity and contrasts happening today in the most exciting cities in China. With roots in Guangzhou and family in Hong Kong, I'm very excited to be able to share my personal insight into the culture of the region." - Helen Homan Wu, founder Curagenda

Art Basel has contributed to making Hong Kong one of the most important hubs for contemporary art in Asia. The city has seen a significant increase in the number of art spaces, artists and collectors, influencing the quality and diversity of the regional art scene. Curagenda's carefully crafted itinerary will allow guests to experience this dynamism, through engaging special events and activities. For example, the tour will take guests to Para Site, the most important art space in South Asia, to see the current exhibition and to meet the curators, as well as a visit to see an exhibition curated by Klaus Beisenbach and Peter Eleey from MoMA PS1 at K11 Art Foundation. In addition, Curagenda's private tour will include the Liang Yi Museum where the exhibition "Reunions: A Collector's Journey" will be on view and a visit to the M+ Pavilion. During the week's festivities, there will be opportunities to mingle at breakfasts, brunches, and art parties. As a member of Curagenda, guests will also have privileged access to Duddell's, the acclaimed private art club, which is also a Michelin-starred restaurant founded by collector Alan Lo.

During the second part of the trip, March 26 to 29, we visit Beijing, providing guests with Curagenda's insight into the imperial capital. We unveil layers of this complex city from the spectacular Great Wall to the quiet and peaceful villages. Guests will experience an abandoned village transformed into a unique retreat, staying in the village homes with private Chinese gardens and spectacular views of the most well-preserved parts of the Wall. There will be intimate moments shared with local artists and guided studio visits. We will visit 798 Art District, a must for any art lover visiting Beijing, to see the works of major artists both local and international, private collections and museums. A local expert with personal stories to tell will provide a guided tour to the Forbidden City and and hutong (ancient alleyways). The highlight of the trip will be our gourmet indulgence that includes a royal kitchen, the best Peking duck and a secret gem private kitchen.

Reservations can be made for the Art Basel Hong Kong & Beijing VIP Insider Art Expedition until the beginning of March 2017 at Curagenda.com. Package prices start from $500 to $3,900.

Program Summary:

Travel Dates: 21 to 29 March 2017

Part 1 March 21-25: 5-Day Personalized Art Basel Hong Kong VIP Experience Self-guided (Personal guide upon request)

Part 2, March 26-29: 4-Day Beijing Contemporary Art & Culinary VIP Collectors Stay Specialist guided / a maximum of 8 pp

Excursion: Pearl River Delta 1-day visit with curators to the major art spaces and institutions in Shenzhen and Guangzhou.

Beijing Stay: Brickyard Mutianyu

The Brickyard Mutianyu is a destination in itself with existing footprints and village structures, which were delicately restored to create unique spaces for sophisticated travelers. Situated above Beijing's city center in a traditional village, the Brickyard has a modern feel with rustic Chinese elements that allow this hotel to blend in with the surrounding village. The eco-conscious philosophy carries through from the hotel's organic farm with fresh vegetables picked every morning from April to November for guest meals. www.brickyardatmutianyu.com

Artist in Focus and Studio Visit (Beijing): Cold Ink Group

Cold Ink Art Group is an artistic collective that was established in 2013 by young generation of artists, who were born in the 1970s and 80s, that completed their training at the Material Experimentation and Expression Studio of Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing. For more than a year, Cold Ink Group has been seeking innovative ways to express their unique artistic vision. Acknowledging the strength of interplay of personalities, the collective strategically uses group discussion and peer curation, to transform individual practices and into a collaborative effort.

www.curagenda.com