The Art Is Now

This month, with three important art events in singapore, it's a great time to think about buying art - whether to start a collection or for investment.

- Gwen Pew

“Nowadays, we have economic crises worldwide,” declares Art Stage Singapore founder and director Lorenzo Rudolf. “It probably would be a good time to invest in art.” That may be a general statement, but for Singapore denizens, the time is more ripe than ever to reach into their wallets, particularly when it comes to investing in local artists. The art market here in the past 10 to 15 years has grown – with more exhibitions, art fairs and art spaces popping up – allowing individuals more opportunities to engage in the scene and learn about artists and their works.

To be sure, the opening of National Gallery Singapore just over a year ago, coupled with the opening of many commercial galleries – such as Art Asia X or AC42 Gallery, both of which specialise in local artists, as well as online platforms such as The Artling – has raised Singapore’s game on the world stage.

The high-profile auction titled Convergences: A Special Sale Of Singapore Art, held by Christie’s Hong Kong in 2015 to celebrate SG50, saw total sales meeting almost 97 per cent of its high estimate, with works by the late pioneers of Singapore modern art such as Cheong Soo Pieng and Chen Chong Swee setting records decades after they were created.

For Seah Tzi-Yan, the director of local arts association T.H.E.O. Arts Professionals, this interest in older Singapore artists’ works indicates that the market is looking inwards to find “good things within our own shores”.

SPOT THE WINNERS