As the art world holds its collective breath for ART HK, there’s an art lover who couldn’t care less. “It’s a rich man’s supermarket,” says KS, between puffs of his wooden pipe. “Why does artwork have to live in a gallery, all snobbish? It’s clichéd, but art is everywhere.” To prove his point, this one-man force against highbrow art gestures at the concrete car park we are sitting in. Surrounded by derelict tong lau in the back-alleys of Sheung Wan, this very site will be transformed into ART(UN)FAIR, an “anti-exhibition” event featuring ten other like-minded local artists, musicians and photographers, all of whom will create live art on the day.

For 28-year-old KS, a graphic designer and former graffiti artist, the urge to combat the inaccessibility of fine art in Hong Kong came earlier this year during a visit to Melbourne. Stumbling upon a bohemian art fair in a subway, KS was blown away by its openness and spontaneity. He was particularly inspired by an artist who left his creations in a box for passersby to take, asking only for a personal object in exchange. This got KS thinking. “Money is just the way we rationalise the world we live in,” he muses. “You can’t put a price tag on [art].”

Adopting the same “no exchange of money” rule, and staying true to its anti-art fair sentiments, ART(UN)FAIR encourages artists to publicly share their work, whilst inviting viewers to become engaged in the art-making process. “I want to bring out the fact that people come here to communicate, to exchange ideas. I want to hear the audience’s comments, or even just have a chat,” explains KS. Similarly, he expects viewers to take an active interest in the artist’s creative process. He envisions a symbiotic process between artist and viewer, of inspiring and being inspired.

Surprisingly, despite the blatant play on names, KS did not plan for his own ART(UN)FAIR event to coincide with Hong Kong’s biggest art fair. But this event might as well be the ultimate middle finger to the multi-million-dollar turnover that is ART HK. “I can pull a piece of thread from my T-shirt to exchange [for a piece of art]. So, bite me,” he laughs.

“Ideally, I’d imagine people bringing their own artwork in exchange because it’s not something you can buy, it’s from them,” KS says.

Telephone Fung, an illustrator and KS’ old friend will be drawing portraits of participants on a wooden board for the event. Like KS, she is most excited by what participants might offer her for her illustrations. But anything goes, as long as it’s personal. “It can even be herbal tea made by someone’s mum,” KS adds jokingly.

Before we part ways, KS invites me along to the event, and extends the invitation to my mum, albeit with one special request: “Please don’t forget to ask her to bring her herbal tea!”

Tina Leung

Rat’s Cave by Start From Zero, G/F, 18A-B Tai Ping Shan St, Sheung Wan, 3484 8577. Sat 28, 2pm-8pm.