As interest in Asian art and Asian money rises, the Hong Kong-based Asia Art Archive (AAA), which Hsu and Chang Tsong-zung founded back in 2000, occupies an increasingly important position as a gateway to understanding the history and context of art production in the region. It has arguably the most comprehensive collection of documentary and archive material related to contemporary Asian art and, through its conferences and research programmes, remains the centre for discussion and dialogue in the region.

In some ways the pairing of Chang and Hsu is a little artificial – these days they are quite separate entities. The latter directs the AAA, and the former – a leading expert on the region’s art since the 1980s, and something of a guru to an emerging generation of artists and curators – remains an AAA board member while running the commercial gallery Hanart TZ, acting as an adviser to collectors such as David Tang, and curating, teaching and writing about Southeast Asian art internationally.