Emi Eu and Audrey Yeo are launching a new platform to champion Southeast Asian art, and they tell Hong Xinyi why they want to galvanise Singapore’s art scene
THERE IS A NEW HIGHLIGHT ON SINGAPORE’S ART CALENDAR THIS YEAR, AND IT MAY JUST PROVE TO BE THE START OF AN INTERESTING NEW CHAPTER IN SINGAPORE’S VISUAL ARTS SCENE. NAMED S.E.A. FOCUS, it is a platform that aims to foster a deeper appreciation of Southeast Asian modern and contemporary art, and will kick off its first edition as a boutique art fair, held from January 23 to 27 in a special pop-up structure at Gillman Barracks. With 26 international and local galleries taking part, S.E.A. Focus is relatively small-scale. It is also coming at a time when the viability of Singapore as an art hub is under a bit of a cloud. Art Stage Singapore 2018 had 84 participating galleries, the lowest number (at press time) since its inception in 2011. The Singapore Contemporary Art Show held its final edition in 2017 and the Affordable Art Fair has cut its two annual editions to just one.
A new entrant, ART SG, announced that its first fair would take place here in November 2019, but the excitement was somewhat dampened by subsequent news that MCH Group, one of three partners behind this venture, was pulling out. Compared to the buzz of earlier years, the fizz of the art scene has gone a little flat lately. So what makes S.E.A. Focus so intriguing? Well, first, a little bit of art history, so to speak.
The major milestones of Singapore’s contemporary visual arts scene happened in rapid succession—the first Singapore Biennale happened in 2006, Art Stage Singapore debuted in 2011, Gillman Barracks launched as a visual arts cluster in 2012, the first Singapore Art Week kicked offin 2013, and the National Gallery Singapore opened in 2015.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der January 2019-Ausgabe von Singapore Tatler.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der January 2019-Ausgabe von Singapore Tatler.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
A Family Jewel
Fanty Soenardy unveils the crowning jewel of her vault-a Chaumet tiara that she dreams of passing down to her daughter on her wedding day
GROWTH MINDSET
Three women entrepreneurs share their smart habits to managing money and growing wealth—and doing so meaningfully with purpose
A Classic Redefined
Through the organic beauty of wood veneers, Steinway & Sons' limited edition Masterpiece 8X8 explores an alternative to the established aesthetic of pianos
Oak Artistry
Born of a collaboration with contemporary circus producer Cirque du Soleil, Vibrant Oak, the fourth release in The Macallan's Harmony Collection, pays homage to the Scottish whisky house's rich history with oak and the sherry-seasoned oak casks central to its heritage
Full Potential
Philippine tourism is buzzing with activity, and Christina Garcia Frasco is at the forefront of it all
Live & Learn
When Anthonia Hui and Leonardo Drago still lived in Hong Kong nearly three decades ago, they came across a beggar on the streets. “Just as I was about to pull out my wallet, Leo held my hand and said, ‘How do you know he’s not scamming you?’”
Hip to Be Square
Patek Philippe launches Cubitus, its first new collection in 25 years, in Munich, Germany, debuting three sporty and elegant watches By Annabel Tan
Marine Wonders
Rolex's Perpetual Planet Initiative and Mission Blue join forces to support the conservation of Indonesia's island paradise of Nusa Penida and its magnificent biodiversity
Deep Purpose
Rolex champions environmental conservation through its Perpetual Planet Initiative, which supports ocean-focused organisations such as Sylvia Earle's Mission Blue and Titouan Bernicot's Coral Gardeners
Grand Designs
When it comes to grand touring, few carmakers can boast the storied history of Maserati, which has been producing vehicles that embody grand touring's golden era, which originated in the mid-20th-century, for more than 75 years.
