Books: Where art meets national security in Hong Kong

A casual visitor to Hong Kong will see a vibrant art scene, replete with contemporary galleries and shiny museums. But the underlying question, for collectors, dealers and general enthusiasts alike, is how Hong Kong artists respond to the limitations -- perceived or otherwise -- of the national security law that took effect in March after unanimous assent by the city's Beijing-approved Legislative Council criminalizing subversion and "collusion with external elements."

Will artists address pressing social injustices, such as the almost endemic mistreatment and marginalization of domestic servants, the scandalous persistence of caged apartments, the chasm of wealth disparity? Be warned. These questions are not answered in Enid Tsui's forthcoming title "Art in Hong Kong: Portrait of a City in Flux," which will be published in January by the specialist arts publisher Lund Humphries.