Love Me by Choi Jeong Hwa, Galerie Vanessa Quang. Image courtesy of Art Stage Singapore 2014

BY KAZAD

SINGAPORE–A total of 45,700 visitors visited this year’s Art Stage Singapore that ended Sunday. The art fair which has become the major Asian art event drew visitors and participants from across the globe. This fourth edition of the Art Stage Singapore featured 158 exhibitors from around the globe, many of who are reporting significant sales. Paintings, sculpture, and artworks in other media by emerging and famous artists like Zao Wou-Ki, Gerhard Richter, Sakshi Gupta, Secundino Hernandez, Waqas Khan, Zhang Ding, Jean-Michel Othoniel, Anthony Gormley, Qiu Zhijie, teamLab, Jane Lee, and Naoko Tosa were sold by top galleries.

The Platforms

The highlight of this year’s event was The Platforms, a series of curated sales exhibitions. They featured works by Southeast Asia, Australia, Central Asia, China, India, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan artists. The shows provided the necessary contextualization and understanding of artistic development in Asia. They also reveal key elements of the growing art market for collectors, artists, and art professionals at the fair.

The concept of the Platforms” noted Kim and Lito Camacho, Filipino art collectors is unique because of the experience. He notes: 

It is an interesting one because it gives one the experience of being in a museum as opposed to a gallery booth. It allows one to experience and engages with the artworks in a different way. The country and regional Platforms allow one to experience the works by both established and emerging artists. It is also very educational – as one goes through the Platforms, they get to experience a diverse range of art from different countries, even within the same region.

The 2014 art fair continues to receive accolades from guests and curators for a great outing. David Lin of Lin & Lin Gallery, Taipei succinct. “Art Stage Singapore is the best way to get into the Asian art world,” he said. His sentiment is shared by Uli Sigg, collector, and researcher of Contemporary Chinese art who described the event thus:

Unique Selling Point- Uli Sigg

Art Stage Singapore always brings in new artists whom I do not know about, not only from my specialty – Chinese art – but from other parts of Asia and Southeast Asia. It is also a place to get to know the artists, and learn more about them and their works….I think it is a good idea to have Platforms because it is a way to distinguish Art Stage Singapore from other art fairs. Another distinguishing factor is the mix of galleries and I hope Art Stage Singapore will continue doing so while keeping its focus on art from Southeast Asia. I think that’s their unique selling point, which they should build on.”

Artists, curators, and other emerging art professionals are already looking forward to Art Stage Singapore 2015. Art fair insiders note that the eagerness is not just because of this year’s great outing, but also because of the events, which brings together art professionals from around the world. Art Auctioneers and art market monitors, however, points to the increase in art sales as the reason for all the zest. Biantoro Santoso of Nadi Gallery, Jakarta explained the enthusiasm when she noted that“The fair is ideal to meet new collectors, particularly international buyers.” Here are some images of works and people at this year’s event.

ALSO READ: Modern Art Videos Celebrate Contemporary Art and Events at Art Stage Singapore