Annual Singapore art fair returns on a smaller scale, yet with stronger regionality

SINGAPORE -- The third edition of Art SG, one of the major art fairs in Southeast Asia, kicked off Thursday on a smaller scale than the previous year, bringing together 105 galleries from 30 countries. The number of participating galleries has decreased since its inaugural edition, which had 150 galleries.
“As we open the third edition of Art SG, we celebrate the consistent growth of Singapore’s art scene. An acknowledged cultural hub across the Indo-Pacific, the city’s ecosystem boasts new arts and cultural enterprises, exciting exhibitions and private foundations,” said Magnus Renfrew, Co-Founder of Art SG, at the fair opening at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Center on Thursday.
Despite the smaller number of galleries, the four-day art fair strengthened its regional identity with more than 30 galleries based in Southeast Asia joining the fair. STPI, one of the leading galleries in Singapore, sees the art fair as a “cornerstone” of the Singapore art week in terms of its international approach to collectors, creating synergy with S.E.A. Focus, a small platform that highlights works by Southeast Asian artists.
“Art SG is a very good opportunity to meet colleagues from other parts of the world, and also for Singaporeans to see international artists on a different scale,” said Emi Eu, executive director of STPI. “Singapore is a small country, yet it's dynamic because culturally every country in Southeast Asia is very different.”
Richard Koh, founder of Richard Koh Fine Art, said he sees changes in collectors from different countries in Southeast Asia in his gallery every few years, following the tide of the economy.
“Singapore is a small market but it is like a center with regional visitors coming from countries such as Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines,” he said.
Tang Contemporary Art, which has joined the art fair since its inaugural edition, said the gallery saw a huge success in sales, which slowed down a bit at the second edition.
“It just opened, and we are optimistic for the third edition as we see collectors are visiting our booth mainly from Malaysia and Indonesia this year,” said Damian Han, an official from the gallery. The most popular artists at the fair include Chinese artist Zhao Zhao and Korean artist Woo Kuk-won, according to the gallery.

Nine Korean galleries are participating in the fair this year -- Gana Art, Johyun Gallery, One and J, Seojung Art, Baik Art and Pyo Gallery -- hoping to reach collectors in Singapore.
“We were worried before we came here, but it has been quite okay so far,” said an official from Gana Art. “It's a weekday, so we are seeing more foreign collectors than Singaporean collectors," the official added.
Art SG is part of a variety of art events and exhibitions held across the city-state for Singapore Art Week.