New fair opens doors to Asian art collectors

Some works are displayed at the last 2015 October show in Hong Kong.[Photo provided to China Daily]

Singapore Contemporary, a new art fair, will be presented from Jan 21-24, adding new luster to the city-state's developing, vibrant art landscape.

Show organizers hope to not only interest top collectors, but also to unlock an art passion in Asia's growing middle and upper-middle class, including emerging young buyers from the Chinese mainland, the show's director Mark Saunderson tells China Daily via e-mail.

Saunderson, an avid collector and gallery owner, co-founded Hong Kong's biannual Asia Contemporary Art Show in 2012.

Together with his partners Douwe Cramer and Sarah Benecke, Saunderson is ambitious to translate their 20 years of experience in art, media and events in Hong Kong to Singapore, another flourishing art hub in the region.

Greatly motivated by its national arts council and other government bodies, Singapore boasts a packed art calendar, including the marquee Art Stage and Affordable Art Fair.

The recent opening of the National Gallery Singapore marks a milestone in the city-state's art story.

Online platform Artsy.net ranks Singapore 11th on its list of 15 most influential art cities of 2015. Hong Kong is ranked ninth, the highest for an Asian city.

Saunderson says apart from attracting art aficionados, Singapore Contemporary will court an expanding base of young professionals who have discretionary income and would like to enjoy leisure.

The fair aims to raise their awareness about art for both enjoyment and investment.

He says few of these people, however, have time "with family and business commitments to stroll the art-gallery circuit".

He adds that art shows will provide them the convenience of spending time with friends while exploring artworks priced between $7,000-70,000.

Cramer told Blouinartinfo.com last month that: "In our experience this group really likes the idea of browsing a wide selection of artworks and then making up their minds about what works to acquire."