Absolut presents a collaboration with Nadim Abbas, one of Hong Kong’s most exciting young artists, on a new ambitious, site-specific art bar, open daily for the duration of Art Basel in Hong Kong.

Set in a post-apocalyptic bunker-like environment, Apocalypse Postponed will be Abbas’s literal and conceptual construction of a ‘safe haven’ and will draw inspiration from a range of sources, from cult science fiction films including A Clockwork Orange, Dune and Alien, to 20th century defensive plans and fortifications such as the Swiss National Redoubt and Atlantic Wall.

Abbas’s practice explores technologies of perception, often drawing thematic inspiration from literature, psychology and science to create immersive and multi-sensory environments. Apocalypse Postponed will be a continuation of Abbas’s enquiry into the hidden violence that permeates quotidian elements of urban living.

The installation will feature a changing nightly program of live music, DJ sets, screenings and theatrical performances, all curated by the artist. A series of limited edition cocktails designed by the artist and inspired by the themes of Apocalypse Postponed will also be served.

Apocalypse Postponed is the latest in a series of unique collaborations between Absolut and leading contemporary artists on art bar installations, and follows critically acclaimed installations by Adrian Wong at last year’s Art Basel in Hong Kong, Mickalene Thomas at Art Basel's show in Switzerland in 2013 and Ry Rocklen at Art Basel in Miami Beach in 2013.

Apocalypse Postponed will be open daily for the duration of Art Basel's Hong Kong show, from 15 – 18 May 2014.

“I’m very excited at the challenge of developing Apocalypse Postponed together with Absolut, and look forward to setting up a parallel space that will warp the audience’s sense of temporality during Art Basel in Hong Kong.” Says Nadim Abbas.

“We are thrilled to be working with Nadim Abbas. He has an incredibly interesting multidisciplinary practice and we look forward to working with him to bring his artistic vision to life.” Says Ulrika Lövdahl, Global Art Manager, Absolut.

Absolut is Associate Partner of Art Basel and supports Conversations. Conversations is Art Basel's dynamic talks program that brings together leading experts from across the visual arts, including artists, museum directors, curators, collectors, gallery directors and critics, to discuss some of today’s most important issues in the global art market and the wider art community.

One of the guiding aspirations of Absolut is to nurture artistic discourse and provide a forum for ideas that are relevant to the art world and to society at large.

-Absolut
Image: © Nadim Abbas