Jan 13 2017

Highlights from Art Stage Singapore 2017

by Sylvia Tsai

It was a festive occasion on January 11, the preview day of the 7th edition of Art Stage Singapore (ASS); regional art lovers rubbed shoulders and champagne flowed freely as the city anticipated another annual round of Singapore Art Week (1/11-22) events. While artists and collectors milled around the booths, the 131 participating galleries were busy locking in sales—many reported a financially favorable evening of deals. This year saw the return of Collectors’ Stage, a special exhibition featuring works from six Singapore-based private collections, first seen at the inaugural edition of ASS in 2011. The show was curated by Enin Supriyanto and featured works by local and international artists. Also returning is the second iteration of the Southeast Asia Forum, a section that includes a curated selling exhibition and a series of talks that runs throughout the course of the fair. Reflecting on current economic and political challenges worldwide, the forum’s theme this year is “Net Present Value: Art, Capital, Futures,” which focuses on art and money.

Here are some highlights from Art Stage Singapore 2017, which runs through January 15 at the Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre.

In the Collectors’ Stage section of Art Stage Singapore is the installation More We, Less Me (detail) (2011), by Bandung-based collective TROMARAMA (Febie Babyrose, Herbert Hans Maruli and Ruddy Alexander Hatumena). Three crosses are filled with x-ray scans of the three artists expressing their individuality, yet also showing their strength in unity via the LED text. It is a timely statement given political and social situations around the world. From the collection of Michelangelo and Lourdes Samson.
All photos by Sylvia Tsai for ArtAsiaPacific.

From the collection of Singaporean Hady Ang is a work by Thai artist VASAN SITTHIKET, Love Thai Culture (date unknown), showing a portrait of the artist clad in traditional dance costume. Vasan Sitthiket is known for his critiques of the establishment; this work is an ironic commentary on contemporary culture in Thailand.

Filipino artist LESLIE DE CHAVEZ brings together imagery associated with Philippines’s colonial history with contemporary aesthetics in the work Revolutionary Past for Future Doubts (2010). The artist challenges viewers to think about the idea of “revolution,” and what it means or looks like in present day. From the collection of Michelangelo and Lourdes Samson.

The sleek, minimal sculptures of Jogja-based artist HANDIWIRMAN SAPUTRA is represented in the Collectors’ Stage section by Singaporeans Michael Tay and Talenia Phua Gajardo. Included is his resin-made chair Pose No. 3 (2008).

For five years, Indonesian artist JIM ALLEN ABEL photographed snapshots of street culture in various cities of his country from his Vespa. The images of daily life, shown in this installation Motorcycle Diaries (2010) also captures the current socioeconomic realities faced by many Indonesians. This work is part of the Southeast Asia Forum.

Detail of JIM ALLEN ABEL, Motorcycle Diaries (2010).

In the main galleries section, visitors have the opportunity to see artists at work over at the booth of 1 Projects (Bangkok/Singapore). Saigon-based sculptor RICHARD STREITMATTER-TRAN and Thai artist PRASERT YODKAEW continues to build upon their site-specific installation over the course of the fair, molding objects from unfired clay. The work, Indra: Contemporary Conflict and Communication (2017), draws upon Hindu and Buddhist mythologies of the deity Indira who returns to earth when called upon by humans in need.

EDDY SUSANTO comments on capitalism in his installation Kalathida Towards Capitalism (2016) at the gallery Lawangwangi (Bandung), where money and power are represented by pigs, known for their insatiable appetites.

Booth of Richard Koh Fine Art (Kuala Lumpur/Singapore).

GERALDINE JAVIER creates a fantastical wonderland scene at Arario Gallery (Seoul/Shanghai).

Indonesian duo INDIEGUERILLAS’ urban chic at Mizuma Gallery (Singapore), where socks and shirts sell for SGD 16 to 200.

Ranjit Hoskote curated the booth of New Delhi’s Art District XIII, entitled “The Elements,” addressing our current ecological and climate concerns. Among the four included artists is GIGI SCARIA, represented by his watercolor drawings.

Singapore Art Week takes place throughout the city until January 22, 2017.

Sylvia Tsai is associate editor at ArtAsiaPacific.

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