Art & Culture

Although he was a native of Hong Kong, when Ben Brown decided to open an art gallery, he chose London rather than his home town for his first venture. When Ben Brown Fine Arts opened its doors in London’s Cork Street back in 2004, Hong Kong still seemed an unpromising location for a gallery aiming to specialize in western contemporary art. But by 2009, having already opened a second London branch, Brown was ready to take the plunge in Hong Kong.

A pillar was found collapsed at an ancient Roman villa in Pompeii on Thursday, as the government prepares a series of measures to preserve the unique but dilapidated archaeological area.

Hong Kongers are a tough crowd. Every second person I meet protests that we have no real art scene and pronounces the city barren of creativity. But, come on. In recent years, the Hong Kong gallery scene has evolved significantly. Dealers are bringing in big name artists like Damien Hirst and Zhang Huan for solo shows. Alternative spaces devoted to new media and subculture art have cropped up. A slew of international dealers such as Larry Gagosian, Ben Brown and Sundaram Tagore have opened outposts.

A performance artist who said giving birth is the "highest form of art" has delivered a baby boy — inside a New York City art gallery.