Art collector William Lim of the Living Collection on his collecting journey
May 23, 2025
Art collector, William Lim, talks to Jaz Kong about playing a pivotal role in the development of the local art scene
William Lim, co-collector of the Living Collection
According to Woaw Gallery’s website, William Lim likes to introduce himself as an “architect, artist and collector, not necessarily in that order”. Despite wearing several hats, one thing for sure is that Lim understands the true meaning of art – and how important it is to support the local art ecosystem.
With the belief that “art is to be lived with”, Lim and his wife Lavina are the driving force behind a private collection designed to represent a Hong Kong narrative as well as support young and/or local artists. Over 90 pieces from the couple’s Living Collection are now displayed at the M+ Lounge, generously donated by the couple to M+ before its grand opening.
Lim’s collecting journey dates back to when he was 14 years old and would pick out mementos of places he visited. He recalls his first trip to London, when he went to the Sunday markets at Hyde Park and bought a “trashy kind of art”. Regardless of the quality, it still made for great stories at the dinner table.
“For a while it was just souvenirs to collect from a place. Then we were living in the US for almost 10 years, so Asian culture really fascinated me and I was very interested in Chinese antiques,” say Lim, the founder of CL3 Architects. “Then I started my own practice in 1993, which was the first ‘building boom’ in China, so I had to travel a lot, and around that time was also when Chinese contemporary art started to develop. I remember watching CNN and they were talking about the rise of the Chinese contemporary art scene.”
From porcelain, Lim slowly transitioned to more current pieces. “It was a breakthrough for me to not only look at art that was produced hundreds of years ago, but at art that is produced now and get to meet the artists, talk to them and even become friends with them.”
It wasn’t until around 2003 that Lim started paying closer attention to the Hong Kong contemporary art scene. He still remembers visiting Para Site for the first time and seeing work by Lee Kit. “I started to catch on very quickly and thought there was something very interesting, like they are telling a Hong Kong story. Also, during that time, there really wasn’t much exposure for Hong Kong artists, and some even were struggling to make a living. So I thought, maybe that’s something I could focus on – supporting the Hong Kong contemporary art scene – while I get to buy things I like that are affordable.”
What makes Lim’s collection unique is his perspective as an architect. “I’m more interested in telling a Hong Kong story,” he says, “but because I’m also an architect, a lot of work that intrigues me is about the Hong Kong environment or its spaces, interior, landscape and people. Certain works can be very realistic, some can be surreal. In a way, I feel that by collecting their work, I start to tell this kind of story about Hong Kong and the people
who were living here at that particular moment.”
Also see: #interview: Lauren Tsai, the girl who blends the worlds of Disney, Ghibli and Tim Burton in her art
Lim stores some of his collection in Wong Chuk Hang, where he also entertains friends. But since the launch of Art Basel Hong Kong in 2013, the purpose of the space has shifted. “Whenever people come to Hong Kong for the art fair, they want to look at collections of local art as well. So eventually I opened up my space and it became a place where I can showcase Hong Kong artists,” he says. “I think that’s how the systematic collection started to shape up. I also did the book The No Colors in 2013, when I think the planning of M+ started. I feel that perhaps there’s a transition from individual collectors to institution collections.”
The book showcased not only the Living Collection but also conversations with artists, curators and patrons who are key to the Hong Kong art scene, with the aim to question and reflect on the role of private collectors in town, as well as how the local community can be enriched.
Lim recalls starting his conversations with M+ around 2016. “I said I want the works to be in a living environment. It should be a kind of time capsule. M+ loved the idea of the donation. Then they figured to place them in the members’ lounge, which is pretty much a recreation of my studio space.”
Among the donated works are Lim’s own paintings. He picked up a brush again during the pandemic, and has found being an artist allows him to reflect on the role of galleries and collectors even more. “I think switching over really makes me understand an artist’s life,” he says. “I do see art differently. I think I know how difficult it is, in a way. If you want to survive as an artist, you have to sell your work. You have to work with galleries. It’s like completing my whole cycle of why I’m interested in art. As both a collector and an artist, I’m learning the full cycle of the art ecology.”
Lim sees collecting as a way to build a two-way communication with artists. “The artwork is produced by an artist with their point of view; but as a collector, we are the ones who agree with that view. The collection is not only about the artist, but also about the collector and what they see in things, what interests them and what stories they’re building through the collections.”
For Lim, who is also a member of the M+ Director’s Circle, the value of collecting is not measured in dollars and cents. “Through collecting, I get to meet people and go to interesting art events. That’s something immeasurable.”
Also see: Patrick Sun on collecting and supporting queer art
