In 2024, the world's leading international contemporary art magazine Art Review ranked him 24th on its ardently watched "Power 100," an indicator that he is one of the most influential people right now deciding the sort of art that gets made and seen.
The continued rise in the ranks—he was 29th in 2023—comes as he was promoted to double-hat as chief executive of both the National Gallery Singapore and the Singapore Art Museum (SAM) after Ms Chong Siak Ching stepped down in April.
He was already director of both institutions, and still holds both positions.
He has also been handed Ms Chong's other portfolio as head of the Visual Arts Cluster, comprising the two museums and STPI—Creative Workshop & Gallery, which focuses more on the mediums of print and paper.
Over lunch, Dr Tan is keen to set the record straight.
In the art world, he says, it is not unusual for a person to be both chief executive and director of a museum; financial and curatorial decisions are intrinsically linked in galleries.
What is less common, however, is that a single person would be appointed to take on this mantle in two cornerstone national institutions. "It was a strategic decision to harness the synergies of both organisations," he says. "To bring them closer and make sure they collaborate, but, at the same time, give them distinct identities."
For the doubters, a major test he applies is greater public understanding of what National Gallery and SAM individually stand for—helped, no doubt, by SAM's move out of the Civic District to Tanjong Pagar Distripark for a more rugged brand.
Denne historien er fra December 22, 2024-utgaven av The Straits Times.
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Denne historien er fra December 22, 2024-utgaven av The Straits Times.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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BLACK DAY FOR BRITISH PUBS
At her London pub, landlady Kate Davidson has taken to issuing Guinness ration cards, but the beer still ran out amid a British shortage of Ireland's national drink.
Her Last Gifts
It was exhausting, he sighed. But Carol insisted; her name being what it was and his, she said with a big grin, being Chris. Remember, this is the blessed spirit of the season, to give as we have been given.
When You Think About Me
She empties the last drawer and, between stray baubles, there's the cookie tin, the one hunted down from some narrow shop in Liverpool because it didn't ship here.
Gift Of The Magi
Let's say you never intended to use Magi. Let's say you know about all the scandals: the accusations of stolen data, the EU lawsuits, the CEO's abhorrent behaviour. Let's say you don't even believe the outlandish social media claims that the app is magical, like actual magic. You know it's not possible it reads your mind, plumbs your soul, knows your heart's desires. You're not so gullible.
Ho Ren Yung: Steering global brand evolution of Banyan Group
Ms Ho Ren Yung, deputy chief executive of Banyan Group, oversaw the company's brand relaunch in a bumper year of 19 openings in 2024. These included Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto in Japan and Angsana Tengchong in China.
Jury-rigged Hotpot
The Japan Home folding table was just big enough to accommodate two.
Tales of love, peace and hope
The Sunday Times invites five authors to pen short stories around the theme of A Christmas Gift
Japan: Taking centre stage in Singapore and beyond
Scroll through your social media feed this holiday season, and practically everyone you know is in Japan or making plans to vacation there.
UOB: Most influential patron in Singapore art scene
UOB's \"day job\" is handling loans, deposits and a wealth of diverse portfolios. But the bank cemented its role as the most influential patron in the Singapore art scene in 2024, investing good chunks of cash in both arts and arts education.
Fong Chi Chung: Putien restaurants make dining out more affordable
In a year where diners made themselves scarce - preferring to spend their strong Singapore dollars overseas, and leading restaurant owners and chefs to despair over empty dining rooms - this power lister made a power move that others in the industry are watching closely.
