Art SG adapts amid economic challenges

SINGAPORE’S premier art fair Art SG returns in January 2024, but with fewer galleries – just 116 compared to its 2023 debut edition that attracted 164. With the current economic and geopolitical headwinds, the organisers cite the higher costs of shipping, transportation and other factors for the 30 per cent drop in gallery numbers. 

Some mega-galleries are coming back to cultivate long-term relationships with South-east Asian collectors, whom they see as an important emerging market. These galleries include Gagosian, White Cube, Thaddaeus Ropac and Lehmann Maupin, all bringing works by the world’s most sought-after artists, such as Tracey Emin, Danh Vo, Christian Marclay and Lee Bul. 

Conversely, other mega-galleries, including Pace and Perrotin, have chosen to sit out this upcoming edition, after having participated in the debut edition in January this year. One non-returning blue-chip gallery, David Zwirner, reportedly sold more than half its booth back then, with artworks totalling US$2.5 million. But that has not enticed the gallery to come back to the 2024 edition, which runs from Jan 19 to Jan 21.

Magnus Renfrew, co-founder of Art SG, says: “Expenses have risen considerably over the last while, and I think the galleries are finding the associated costs of doing art fairs generally quite challenging. So I think people are having to be very pragmatic about the approaches that they’re taking.”

Despite this, Renfrew affirms the importance of Singapore and Art SG, which is presented by its lead partner, UBS. He says: “People are very positive about the long-term prospects for Singapore and its increasing relevance within the international art world. The city is widely regarded as the natural venue to engage with South-east Asia because of its infrastructure and geographical location… Even for some galleries not participating this year, (their representatives) are returning to engage with collectors to lay the groundwork for future participation.” 

To entice collectors to come, Art SG has partnered the Thailand Biennale to offer a post-fair excursion to Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai and Chiang Saen, where the art scenes are steadily developing. The five-day, four-night trip will take VIP visitors to artists’ studios, MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum and the Thailand Biennale sites. 

Renfrew says: “We want to try and continue to do this every year, perhaps in different locations each time, to provide people with an opportunity to engage with South-east Asian art, with Singapore as their first stop.”

Art SG’s slate of 116 galleries puts it in the same league as other notable Asian fairs, such as Frieze Seoul (120 galleries) and Taipei Dangdai (90 galleries). But it falls behind the larger fairs, such as West Bund Art & Design (185 exhibitors) in Shanghai, Art Basel Hong Kong (177 galleries) and Art Taipei (144 galleries).

Before its inauguration, Art SG was envisioned as a mid-sized art fair with just 80 galleries. But its stunning tally of 164 galleries for its debut edition momentarily catapulted it into the league of big fairs – a feat it is unable to repeat. At the debut edition, some representatives of major galleries acknowledged off the record that sales were somewhat slower than expected. 

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But Renfrew says: “In every fair, there’s a full spectrum of experiences… Strong fairs are based on strong premises. And we believe that, while there are exigencies of external circumstances, Art SG’s strong foundations will lead to robust results in the medium to long term.”

Its founding and lead partner UBS chose to embrace optimism. Jin Yee Young, co-head of UBS global wealth management for the Asia-Pacific and country head of UBS Singapore, says: “Singapore serves as an important gateway to the vibrant Asia-Pacific art scene, with robust interest among art collectors. In our latest global art survey report, nine out of 10 Singapore art collectors were planning to continue attending art exhibitions. A majority of collectors in Singapore (seven out of 10) are optimistic about the art market over the next six months. Singapore has one of the highest representations of female artists’ works among art collectors.”

Falling numbers aside, Art SG 2024 still promises to be a knockout show, with its array of international and local art luminaries, including Ruben Pang, Hilmi Johandi, Han Sai Por, Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran, Pinaree Sanpitak, Park Seo-Bo, Olafur Eliasson and Tomas Saraceno.

Eight highlights

Waddington Custot: This London gallery is set to make a splash with an outstanding group show featuring blue-chip artists Bernar Venet, Michael Craig-Martin, Chu Teh-Chun, Robert Indiana, Hans Hartung, Barry Flanagan, Ian Davenport and Fernando Botero. It is bringing a monumental sculpture by Jean Dubuffet, as well as an expansive 25 square metre installation by Ian Davenport, which expands upon the themes explored in his acclaimed “puddle” paintings. 

White Cube: The mega-gallery with six branches around the world is returning to the fair with works by top-shelf artists, including Tracey Emin, Danh Vo, Isamu Noguchi, Ibrahim Mahama, Theaster Gates and Christian Marclay. Works by Mahama, Gates and Marclay have seldom been shown in Singapore, making this a particularly welcome showcase.

Kaikai Kiki: Founded by Takashi Murakami in 2001, the Tokyo gallery is making a debut at Art SG with a curation of established and emerging Japanese names. There will be a special focus on Aya Takano, whose paintings combine elements of surrealism, fantasy and anime to render dreamlike landscapes.

ShanghART: The influential Asian gallery with three branches, including one in Singapore, will showcase works by at least two major Singaporean artists: pioneer Tang Da Wu, with his statement piece of a sampan boat comprising wooden offcuts sourced from previous historical projects, and Robert Zhao Renhui, who is Singapore’s representative at the prestigious Venice Biennale in 2024.

Platform: A top highlight of the fair is Platform, a showcase of large-scale, site-specific installations strategically positioned throughout the fairgrounds. Five handpicked artists will contribute to an immersive and multifaceted experience, inviting viewers to engage with art in unexpected ways. The five are Singapore’s Donna Ong and Boedi Widjaja, the UK’s Ian Davenport and Gordon Cheung, and Malaysia’s Marcos Kueh. Kueh is presenting large-scale textile works adorned with motifs inspired by the cultural tapestry of South-east Asia.

Focus: For connoisseurs, one of the best things about Art SG’s first edition was its Focus sector, which featured solo, duo or themed presentations. These smaller showcases enabled art lovers to delve more deeply into specific themes and mediums or the practices of individual artists. Among the artists selected for this year’s Focus sector are Japanese abstractionist Yutaka Aoki and new media artist Refik Anadol.

Futures: Another highlight of the fair is the Futures sector, dedicated to supporting young galleries under the age of 10. For the 2024 edition, 11 galleries will showcase exciting young artists and new works created no more than 18 months ago. Highlights include conceptual paintings by 31-year-old artist Paul Nickson Atia, computer-generated works by Evelyn Bencicova and Red Hong Yi’s incisive investigations into womanhood.

Eko Nugroho: Indonesia’s leading artist has been commissioned by the UBS Art Collection to create a public artwork to raise awareness on global waste. His large-scale installation features sculptures made with recycled materials, such as bottle caps and plastic utensils, collected from his hometown of Yogyakarta. The playful work invites visitor interaction and activation. 

Art SG runs from Jan 19 to Jan 21, 2024, with a vernissage on Jan 18. For more information, visit artsg.com