HONG KONG.- “Para/Site Art Space, Hong Kong's leading non-profit organization dedicated to contemporary visual art exhibitions, has named Cosmin Cosintas as its new Executive Director/Curator. His appointment is effective immediately. Mr. Costinas is Asia's first Outset Curator of Contemporary Art. He relocates from his base in the Netherlands to Hong Kong this fall.

Mr. Costinas says: "I am thrilled to be joining Para/Site at this exceptional moment of its history and look forward to bringing my international and regional experience in leading the institution through this process of growth and rethinking of its role on the local and world stages."

Mr. Costinas is the outgoing curator at BAK, basis voor actuele kunst, Utrecht, Netherlands and also serves on the advisory board of Patterns/Erste Foundation, Vienna, Austria. Mr. Costinas was an editor of the magazines project of documenta 12 (2005–2007) and has curated, published and lectured extensively in Asia and Europe on the contemporary art of many regions.

"I believe we will consolidate Para/Site as an internationally relevant critical platform for contemporary art and as one of the core institutions designing a new, multi-centered global geography of art," he says.


At Para/Site, Mr. Costinas will focus on extending the organization's ambitious curatorial vision, a basis for the institution's strong reputation as a champion of contemporary art in Hong Kong, since its inception as an artist-run space in 1996.


Mr. Costinas will become the first Outset Curator of Contemporary Art at Para/Site, and will play a central role in leading the organisation into its next phase of development, strengthening and forging long-term relationships with local and international arts institutions. Mr. Costinas will curate displays and exhibitions both at Para/Site's Sheung Wan space, as well as at offsite and international venues.


Tim Li, Para/Site Board Chairman says: "Our belief in professional curatorship has become one of the most important core values of the organization. The appointment of Cosmin, a proficient curator with bold vision is a conscious decision made by the Board. He will play a central role in leading the organization to the next phase of development and we are thankful to Outset Contemporary Art Fund in supporting Para/Site Art Space making this important step for its growth."


Yana Peel, Co-Director of Outset says: " We are proud to be supporting Cosmin Costinas as the Outset Curator of Contemporary Art, as an extension of the foundation's decade of work in bringing challenging contemporary art to the public. The directors and patrons of Outset hope that its model of private patronage for public art gains momentum in Hong Kong and that its commitment to Para/Site encourages further private support for one of the leading independent art spaces in Asia."