Art resources move south to rewrite the new landscape, JD and Tencent "cross the boundary" to open an art museum, technology empowers more possibilities

In stark contrast to the recent shutdowns of private art museums in the real estate sector last year, major internet giants JD Group (9618) and Tencent Holdings (700) have recently announced plans to establish private art museums in Shenzhen. Internet companies are taking over the operation of private art museums, crossing boundaries under the banner of "technology + art." Behind this wave is not only a strategic game of corporate brand image but also a reshaping of the art discourse and ecology in the Greater Bay Area. With art resources moving south, Hong Kong's art landscape is also welcoming new opportunities. This capital-driven cultural layout may quietly rewrite the artistic economic map of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau. JD Art Museum Expected to Open by End of Next Year Last month, JD announced with great fanfare that its JD Art Museum, covering an area of over 10,000 square meters, will officially settle in the Shenzhen Bay Super Headquarters Base. It will be equipped with professional facilities for immersive installations, exhibitions, participatory workshops, and creative retail, and is expected to open by the end of 2027. At the same time, Tencent is also planning to create an art space at its Tencent Innovation Future Base located in Houhai. Reports indicate that former Hong Kong Tai Kwun art affairs director Pi Li will be invited to lead the establishment of its affiliated art museum, although Tencent has not officially announced this series of developments. In its announcement, JD stated that the museum aims to "connect the world through art and technology," focusing on interdisciplinary art experiences. Compared to past real estate-supported museums that relied on funding from their parent companies, the museums led by internet companies will have more technological support, with digital technology providing more possibilities for art exhibitions and widespread dissemination. Looking back at Tencent's third-quarter performance last year, both revenue and net profit showed steady growth, with net profit increasing by 18% year-on-year to RMB 70.6 billion. The robust financial capability of internet companies undoubtedly provides a more solid foundation for the art museum to withstand economic fluctuations. Potential to Enhance Profitability of Art Venues Curator Qian Hanchong pointed out that Shenzhen has often been jokingly referred to as a "cultural desert," and the involvement of corporate art museums can further supplement cultural and artistic facilities, complementing local public institutions and independent spaces, and even promoting the enhancement of contemporary art discourse in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area. He also noted that internet companies excel in user operations and digital communication, and through e-commerce or social media interactive curation, they may better promote a monetization model of "online traffic + physical experience," enhancing the profitability of art venues. Regarding the curatorial direction of corporate art museums, Qian Hanchong stated that corporate art museums can easily become brand image projects or public relations tools, with exhibition themes potentially leaning towards "safe" commercially friendly content, and the autonomy of the curatorial team may be limited by corporate strategy. He believes that if large enterprises overly intervene in the public cultural domain, it may squeeze the survival space of independent art institutions and weaken the diversity of the art ecology. Maintaining curatorial autonomy and balancing commercial and artistic values is worth further consideration. Hong Kong as a Gateway to Contemporary Art On the other hand, Philip Tinari, who has served as the director and CEO of UCCA Ullens Center for Contemporary Art for 14 years, will take on the role of deputy director and art supervisor at Hong Kong Tai Kwun this year, reflecting the current trend of the national art focus moving south. Meg Maggio, director of Art Gate Gallery, pointed out that the art market is in a transitional period, and Hong Kong, as the most globalized city in Asia with the lowest tax base, has already become a gateway to contemporary art The "ART021" art group recently held a hybrid model of "Art Fair + Gallery Week" in Hong Kong. This art fair, which has been rooted in Shanghai for over a decade, chose Hong Kong as its exhibition location for the first time. The group's co-founder, Bao Yifeng, stated that even in poor economic conditions, there is still a market for artworks. They hope to connect artists along the "Belt and Road" with the concept of the "Global South," helping them enhance their international influence while injecting new momentum into art fairs in mainland China. Reporter: Zhang Yangru