When the powerhouse of China’s art world, Pearl Lam, opened her second eponymous international gallery in Hong Kong’s Pedder Building in 2015, the sight was something to behold. Despite being such a big prewar building, the queue passed the lobby to the street, and the snaked-out line of viewers crossed the alley. All-decked-up women in their high heels and stilettos were forced to walk cautiously around the tubs of plaster, while the Chinese painters were seen smoking on the stairwell with French art dealers. The scene easily summed up the success of the international gallerist Pearl Lam’s venture into the Hong Kong art scene.

What Sets the Owner Of Pearl Lam Galleries Apart From Others?

As an international art gallerist, Pearl Lam has been pushing the boundary and understanding of Asian art, mainly Chinese art, for the West. With her first exhibition, ‘Mindmap’ in Pearl Lam Galleries, Hong Kong, which Gao Minglu curated, was a gentle nod to China’s contemporary art that is far from the garish cartoon faces, rainbows, and Mao caricatures. Instead, the artwork showcased the country’s contemporary art rooted in Chinese culture and literati.

But that’s not all. Soon after Lam opened the Pearl Lam Galleries in Hong Kong, she made a space for the street artists of Hong Kong SoHo gallery and named the show ‘Hidden Street.’ The powerhouse of China’s art world pushed the boundary when it comes to contemporary Chinese art by giving the ground floor to nine street artists and presenting them with an open canvas, where even the glass became a space for the artist’s expression.

Not many gallerists would give space to street artists because they do not fit into the concepts and rules of traditional galleries and the exhibits shown there. However, Pearl Lam is of a different opinion. She feels that street artists have much impact on society and culture, and their artwork expresses the same, so they should be given the space. Their work should be showcased so a dialogue can be started.

Pearl Lam – Powerhouse of China’s Art World Thoughts On Street Artists

Pearl Lam has stood steadfastly for new artists and new approaches to art. While breaking the convention and understanding of Chinese ‘Contemporary Art,’ she has also pushed for newer art forms that do not pertain to or are bound by the traditional art galleries. Being one of the most recognizable art gallerists in the world, Pearl Lam has used her influence and power to showcase and bring a change in the art world by showcasing and representing the street artists in the Pearl Lam galleries.

One of the reasons Pearl Lam finds artists like KAWS, Mr. Doodle, and Philip Colbert relevant despite starting their journey as street artists or not as conventional artists is because she considers street art to give a sense of freedom from the boring confines of the traditional art world. Furthermore, according to Lam, only when the curator and gallerist embrace the street artists and the new art modes like NFT and virtual reality art while understanding the social, cultural, and political impacts that lead these artis to their creation. Art can evolve and become essential for forming a bond and starting a dialogue between cultures and sub-cultures. According to her, any art form can be a soft power when we live in a world divided by conventions and geo-political conflicts.

Thanks to the likes of Pearl Lam and other gallerists and museums, Mr Doodle, Philip Colbert (represented by Lam), and KAWS are being celebrated. They are often considered street artists but have been instrumental in continuing the transformation brought in by Andrew Warhol, Haring, and even Basquiat.