From Hong Kong Apartment Closets to Global Spotlight
For over a decade after his death in 2009, the artistic legacy of Ha Bik Chuen lay quietly stacked in closets, under beds, and across shelves in a modest eighth-floor Hong Kong apartment. Now, the late artist’s intricate collagraphs and print plates—long overlooked—are captivating collectors and curators alike, with a major showcase at Frieze Masters 2025 in London .
Who Was Ha Bik Chuen?
Born in Guangdong, China, Ha moved to Hong Kong in the late 1950s and began experimenting with collagraphy—a printmaking method using textured plates—in the 1970s. He called his plates “motherboards,” treating them as evolving artworks rather than mere tools. Over his lifetime, he produced thousands of prints, drawings, and sculptures, most never cataloged.
The Discovery That Changed Everything
After Ha’s death, his daughter Dorothy and art historian Michelle Wun Ting Wong began sifting through the family’s To Kwa Wan apartment. What they found stunned the art world: more than 100 collagraph plates—and counting—many still wrapped in newspaper or tucked inside shoeboxes.
- Estimated works in the archive: 10,000+ pieces
- First major international exposure: Frieze Masters 2025, London
- Signature technique: Layered cardboard, fabric, and found objects pressed into inked plates
- Legacy project: Ongoing archival effort led by Asia Art Archive and Ha family
Infographic: The Rise of Ha Bik Chuen’s Market Profile
| Year | Milestone | Global Recognition |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Ha Bik Chuen passes away | Limited to Hong Kong art circles |
| 2014–2020 | Asia Art Archive begins cataloging | Academic interest grows |
| 2023 | First solo institutional show in Asia | Regional acclaim |
| 2025 | Frieze Masters debut in London | Global collector demand surges |
Why Collectors Are Rushing In
Ha’s work bridges Eastern and Western printmaking traditions, with a tactile, almost archaeological quality. His “motherboards” are now seen not just as matrices for prints—but as standalone sculptures. At Frieze, gallerists report strong interest from European and American institutions seeking to diversify postwar collections.
A Legacy Reclaimed
“We didn’t know what we had,” Dorothy Ha admitted during a recent visit. “Now the world is seeing his genius.” With each newly uncovered plate, Ha Bik Chuen’s reputation grows—not as a forgotten figure, but as a visionary ahead of his time.
