Meet Johnson Chang, the man who put Chinese contemporary art on the global map

The legendary gallerist and curator on forty years of radical art and why Hong Kong is more relevant than ever

Few have done more for the critical appreciation of Chinese contemporary art than Chang Tsong Zung (Johnson Chang). Hanart TZ’s charismatic founding director opened his first space in Hong Kong over 40 years ago, in 1977. But in many ways, ‘gallerist’ is too narrow a description for Chang’s long-standing commitment to the visual arts. An academic – currently guest professor at Hangzhou’s China Academy of Art – as well as an independent curator, Chang is behind a slew of exhibitions such as ‘The Stars: 10 Years’ (1989) and ‘China’s New Art, Post-1989’ (1993) which are widely considered as turning points in the West’s awareness and interest in art from the region. He has been instrumental in increasing the visibility of such now-stellar artists as Zeng Fanzhi, Zhang Xiaogang, and  Liu Wei. Together with Claire Hsu, Chang also founded Hong Kong’s influential institution,  Asia Art Archive.

In this new episode of  Meet the Gallerists, Chang recalls creating a stage for artists at a time when few spaces were available to them – and discusses how his mission has evolved to this day. He says of Hanart TZ: ‘I want to use this platform to promote aspects of contemporary art that are the future, and artists who give us a sense of the cultural direction of China and Hong Kong.’

Hanart TZ will exhibit in the Galleries sector at Art Basel Hong Kong 2019.

Director: Luke Casey
Director of photography: Sadie Granberg
Sound: Amos Ho
Assistant Camera: Jacky Shea
Color: Lee Butcher
Production: Art Basel