UBS presents Taipei Dangdai 2020

Taipei Dangdai 2020 will take place between 17 and 19 January, following a successful inaugural edition in 2019 which welcomed more than 28,000 visitors to view contemporary art from a world-class line-up of 90 galleries – with a distinct regional flavour.

The fair offers a dynamic, up-to-the-minute survey of the Asian contemporary art world – an ambition encapsulated in its title "Dangdai", which means “the present moment” in Mandarin. Reflecting on the 2019 edition, Founder and Director Magnus Renfrew commented: “The sheer gathering of industry leaders, the most demanding collectors, top galleries and art institutions all contributed to the huge success of Taipei Dangdai’s first edition.”

UBS continues its support of the fair in 2020, and will present a series of cultural projects that explore conversations around sustainability, legacy and philanthropy. On the show floor, a new space is dedicated to #TOGETHERBAND – a global campaign, launched by UBS and sustainable fashion brand Bottletop, to raise awareness of the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The goals were devised by the UN in 2015 as a universal call to action and address challenges including climate change, inequality and quality education. At the heart of the #TOGETHERBAND campaign are 17 sustainably and ethically produced friendship bands, which will be available to purchase at the booth and online.

The UBS Lounge will feature 21 newly commissioned works by New York-based Taiwanese artist Huang Hai-Hsin, who is represented in the UBS Art Collection. The project explores the power of art and visionary individuals to make a difference, and will be accompanied by a series of talks by leading collectors, gallerists and contemporary artists on art-related topics including gender equality and philanthropy. Paintings are inspired by interviews with 20 local philanthropists and Dennis Chen, Group Managing Director and Head, UBS Taiwan.

“Our focus on sustainability, legacy and philanthropy for the next edition of Taipei Dangdai underlines the power artists have to spark conversations and shape out-of-the-box thinking to envision a more sustainable world,” explains Dennis Chen, Group Managing Director and Head, UBS Taiwan. The ideas that underpin both #TOGETHERBAND and Huang Hai-Hsin’s works are in line with UBS’s vision and aspirations, and we are excited to introduce them to our guests and visitors at the show.”

In addition to the presentation at Taipei Dangdai, a newly acquired work by Huang Hai-Hsin, commissioned by the UBS Art Collection, is to go on display at UBS in Taiwan. ‘Da-an Forest Park’ (2019), is an intricately detailed pencil drawing that demonstrates the artist’s astute powers of observation, showing fun happenings and leisure activities taking place at one of the most popular parks in Taipei.