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Successful inaugural edition of Singapore Contemporary
Successful inaugural edition of Singapore Contemporary
Contemporary Art Singapore, Monday, January 25, 2016: The inaugural edition of Singapore Contemporary closed on a high note on Sunday evening January 24th, with eager art collectors and enthusiasts still filling the 6,000-square-meter hall as the event closed at 6 pm. More than 16,000 visitors from Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and other countries attended the four-day fair at the Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre.
Local, expatriate and overseas visitors praised the wide selection of accessible and collectible works on offer. These include original paintings, limited editions, sculpture, and photography. “I came, I saw, I acquired…and looking forward to the next edition in 2017,” said local collector and permanent resident Oliver Bancalana, who works for Singapore Airlines. Another local collector James Foo noted: “I found Singapore Contemporary to be very welcoming for young collectors, with a really interesting selection of many parts of the world.”
“For first-time buyers like us, it was an ideal opportunity,” said Astrid de Luca. “The event even allowed us to meet directly with some of the artists. Also, making our decision, feeling confident that everything was handled professionally thanks to a trustworthy local advisor. There was also a good turn up of different genres and influences. In the end, we settled for a painting by Indonesian artist Joni Ramlan ‘One Afternoon’ that really moved us.”
Observed Show Director Douwe Cramer: “We are delighted with the outcome of our inaugural edition, and impressed with the strong interest in contemporary art from collectors in Singapore and the region. The feedback from both our many thousands of visitors and 65 exhibitors from 15 countries in Asia and worldwide has been very encouraging.
“The second edition of Singapore Contemporary is scheduled for January 19 – 22, 2017, again at Suntec. Also, will feature more than 90 exhibiting galleries and art installations. We look forward to working with galleries, artists, public art institutions. And the government to become a deeply integrated and valuable long-term player in Singapore’s art ecosystem and to play our part in helping make Singapore Art Week an increasingly important event on the Asian art calendar. Also, we are firm believers that Singapore will continue to grow as the arts hub for Southeast Asia, just as Hong Kong is the hub for northern part of the region. Lastly, we are pleased to have the opportunity to participate in, and I hope to stimulate and facilitate, that growth.”
Added Cramer: “And while most art fairs switch off the lights on the final day and then wait for next year’s show, we are strong believers that quality art should be available 24/7, 365 days a year. Our website Asia Contemporary Art Buyer (www.asiacontemporaryart.com) hosts more than 9,000 artworks by 1,570 artists from 27 countries. It includes thousands of works by artists presented at Singapore Contemporary. Art collectors will have the opportunity to continue browsing and buying up until the show’s 2017 edition. And of course, Singapore Contemporary exhibitors have the opportunity to continue promoting and selling their works with complimentary gallery profiles and artworks on the site.”
Jonathan Macey is the Chief Executive of Macey and Sons Auctioneers and Valuers which is based in Hong Kong. She was very pleased with the company’s participation in Singapore Contemporary. “We exhibited and sold works, took the opportunity to learn about the Singaporean and regional market, and sponsored the very successful Children’s Program. I was delighted on all fronts: we sold a number of artworks in the range of S$30,000 to S$160,000.
“The experience has also inspired me to look at opening an office here. Singapore and the region it serves is clearly a strong and growing market. Actually, based on what I’ve seen this weekend, I’m more confident in our future here than I am in London. And through our sponsorship of the Children’s Program, we helped more than 500 children. Those aging from 3 to 11 years of age to start a lifelong journey of discovering and enjoying art.”
Long-established Singaporean gallery Utterly Art was very pleased with their participation in Singapore Contemporary. Said Gallery Director Kenneth Tan: “We have achieved very healthy sales and are very encouraged. The show is a good size with a really workable layout and nicely spaced booths. Thus, everyone can get around easily. The show should develop strongly from here – we look forward to participating again next January!”
Gallery Director S. Jamal Al-Idrus from Artemis Art of Malaysia observed: “This was a very good debut show with many serious collectors as well as casual enthusiasts who make up the next generation of collectors. A mid-market show was needed in Singapore, with the top and lower ends of the market already well served.
“We presented three artists: a strong, emerging Indonesian artist, Dedy Sufriadi; Vietnamese woodblock artist Vu Bach Lien; and multi-media Malaysian artist Jasmine Kok from Malaysia. We sold works for all three artists. Also, met a good cross section of Singaporeans, expats living here, Indonesians and even some Malaysians we have not met before! “
Gallery Director Charles Chiu of Artists in Taiwan enthused: “We loved the buzz, the atmosphere, and the enthusiastic crowd, not only from Singapore but also the United Kingdom, France, and the USA. At the very well attended ‘Private View’ last Thursday and before the show opened to the public, I welcomed one of Singapore’s leading art collectors to my booth and am negotiating a very large purchase with him.”
Artist Gao Xiao Yun from Shanghai exhibited in Singapore Contemporary’s popular “Art Dialogues” section. Thus, artists present their works directly and can share with visitors the inspiration behind their works. “I have participated in many art fairs in Shanghai and Beijing, and this is a totally different experience. It’s hard to explain but the show, the market and the collectors here just feel ‘right’. And this is exactly the opportunity I’ve been looking for. Singaporean collectors are much more knowledgeable and sophisticated than in China and ask lots of really good questions.
“This is also my opportunity to meet collectors from all over Asia and the world. An opportunity that does not really exist in China on any significant scale. The organizers of the show put on a great tour program called ‘Meet the Artist’. Also, it brought lots of art enthusiasts to my booth, which I really appreciate.”
Another exhibitor in the “Artist Dialogues” section, Henri Depardieu, was also pleased with his experience in Singapore and with Singapore Contemporary. “Singapore is a great city, an international city and the perfect place to meet art lovers from all over the world. I have shared the motivation behind my works with people. They are not just from Singapore, but also China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Switzerland, Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom and even my home country of France.
“I’ve sold very well, including one sale of five paintings to a collector from Beijing who owns a publicly listed company and will display my works in his offices. It’s interesting that a Frenchman who paints Chinese scenes. And, people should sell works to a man from Beijing and at a fair in Singapore!”
Korean gallery Atelier Aki reported an excellent experience with their first time participating in an art fair in Singapore. Director Christine Kim sold many works and was delighted with the quality of collectors. I sold three out of five works from my artist Yehsine Kang by Saturday afternoon. And her internationally popular multi media ‘bookcase’ works have proven popular in Singapore. Works by investment-grade artist Kisoo Kwon have attracted huge attention and sales are really good,” she said.
Singapore Contemporary also featured 12 installation artworks from local and international artists. Former architect and now full-time artist Jasmine Tan of Weird Country showed her amazing work “In Rust We Trust” at the show’s exit door – 48 old car headlights recreated, painted, individually named and hung from the ceiling on steel wires. “I’m so pleased that visitors leaving the show all saw my work, and many walked into the installation touching and photographing. A fitting end to a very good show experience!”
The Founders and Directors of Singapore Contemporary are three art enthusiasts with more than 25 years’ experience in the region. Pioneers in the art space provide vibrant fairs and online content to fulfill the interest of artists, galleries, and buyers. And these stimulate discovery, exploration, and conversations about art. The popular Asia Contemporary Art Show is in its 8 edition in Spring 2016. Also, it is the Hong Kong’s only art fair that takes place twice a year. When the art fairs close, collectors and art lovers can continue to browse 24/7. Thus, they buy on Asia Contemporary Art Buyer. (www.asiacontemporaryart.com).
Singapore Contemporary Advisory Board
The Show Directors is guided by an Advisory Board comprising six influential leaders in Singapore’s art ecology: T.K Quek, Kwok Kian Chow, Michael Lee, Chiara Rosenblum, Arnaud Champenois and Jason Wee. “We are delighted to have the valuable input of such influential and qualified arts specialists on our Advisory Board, which we expect will make a very strong contribution in guiding the direction of Singapore Contemporary in 2016, and as we grow and develop in the years ahead,” said Show Director Douwe Cramer. “The Board will provide insights into the character of art and artists we should be curating, collector and buyer engagement, the genres preferred by Singaporean and Southeast Asian collectors to produce a really engaging show, and special projects and installation art.”
Singapore Contemporary 2017 Dates: January 19 – 22, 2017
Venue:
Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre
Opening Hours:
VIP Program:
Private View (by invitation only)
Thursday January 19, 3.30pm – 5.30pm
Vernissage (by invitation only)
Thursday January 20, 5.30pm – 9pm
General Admission
Friday January 20, 12 noon – 9pm
Saturday January 21, 11am – 7pm
Sunday January 22, 11am – 6pm
