ARTSingapore Fair Showcased Stunning Fine Art
New Displays at 2009 Fair Offered Rare Collection & Unique Works
Oct 14, 2009
The ninth annual ARTSingapore exhibit was held October 9-12, 2009 at the Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, just as the level of confidence in the art market increased. The doors officially opened on October 8th, prior to the Gala Event, where attendees were the first to be led on a tour of the exhibit by ARTSingapore Fair Director Chen Shen Po.
Although the exhibit space was reduced by 20 percent this year, over 600 pieces of art were displayed worth over S$30 million and integrated "three very special exhibits. . . .," stated Ms. Chen on the tour.
Cheong Soo Pieng's Artworks Displayed for First Time
The tour began with a collection of Golden Era paintings, in the Nanyang art style, of a Singaporean artist who is now considered by critics to be "one of the most important artists in that whole movement," according to Ms. Chen. This rare collection of work from the 1950s and 1960s, which is currently owned by a private collector, has not been displayed anywhere before.
The exhibition included a Friday night art conversation on Cheong Soo Pieng, who passed away in 1983. Cheong is "one of the most important artists in Singapore, and yet he is not as well known as his peers. . . . I feel that displaying these works at ARTSingapore would give him due recognition not only in Singapore, but internationally as well," stated Ms. Chen in an ARTSingapore press release.
New Finds Section Promoting Local Artists
The New Finds section "gives everyone a chance to have a platform to show their works," stated Ms. Chen on the tour. It is like a discovery section and is for artists who are either not yet represented by galleries or for the younger galleries out there, continued Ms. Chen.
A local expressionist artist, Chankerk, was one of the artists invited to showcase at the exhibit. "They approached us and we decided to take up a small wall. . . .," stated Angie Chan, managing partner with the Fill-Your-Walls gallery. "His style of work appears to be appreciated more so by foreigners and the locals are taking time to come around to it," continued Ms. Chan in a personal communication dated October 12, 2009. His pieces are priced at SGD $3900.00.
This new addition to the exhibit is set to be a prominent appendage to the showcase and also included a vote by their peers for Most Outstanding Emerging Artist and Most Promising Emerging Gallery. An artist from Korea, Shin-Young Park, won the former and the Simyo Gallery from Korea won the latter.
Innovative Asia International Photography Fair (AIPF) Welcomed
A pioneering photography section has also been added to the 2009 arts fair, bringing the new AIPF together with ARTSingapore. The exhibit included 10 photographers from PhotoArts Santa Fe and two regional artists. "I believe that there is nothing like this in Asia," stated Ms. Chen, who helped form a partnership with PhotoArts Santa Fe after a recent visit to New Mexico. Recognition of photographic art is now on the rise in the Asia Pacific region.
Santa Fe currently has the third largest art market in the United States (U.S.), with over 200 galleries in the area, according to cinematographer and photographer Ward Russell, in a personal interview on October 8, 2009. Mr. Russell is the only photographer from Santa Fe who was able to make the trip to Singapore.
Investing in Art in Singapore
"ARTSingapore is valued for quality," stated Ms. Chen. Yet, when it comes to purchasing art during rough economic times, potential buyers are wondering what they should look for in the market. "If you start looking to invest, buy for your own enjoyment. . . . art should be enjoyed rather than looking at investment value," stated Ms. Chen. It is important to buy something that will maintain value, she continued, but at the same time you will enjoy for years. The fair accomplished over SGD $5 million worth of sales over the five day period.
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