Jasdeep Sandhu, a gallery owner in Singapore who recently opened another venue in Indonesia, recently chatted with a publication regarding the state of the art world in Singapore, including discussing such topics as the local art market and its collectors as well as public support for the arts and the future of the scene as we know it.
Sandhu is impressed with the recent growth of the art market in Singapore. Even within the past five years, the nation has seen an increase in both art interest and collecting, meaning that there is more money available for artists, galleries, and museums to pursue other creative initiatives. Though a recent economic downturn has slowed some of the exciting growth in the art world, Sandhu has expanded into a large warehouse space in Singapore as well as a new gallery in Indonesia.
Historically, art collectors in Singapore have been few in number, but their tastes for fine art have more than made up for it. The majority of buyers of Singaporean art have been Singaporeans and expatriates living in the country, though that demographic is starting to change, according to Sandhu. Many young business professionals are now discovering the joy of collecting art, and they have been particularly responsive to purchasing contemporary art. This is positive for the future of art in the country because more collectors in a broader range of art types means more money for artists and galleries. This, in turn, will make it so galleries can promote even more artists, as well as participate in art fairs like Art Stage Singapore in order to give visibility to those artists.
The Singaporean government has been instrumental in the recent surge of art in the country. This is particularly exciting because even just two decades ago, the government had in place a ban on performance art. Now, however, attitudes have shifted and the government is working to understand and promote all different types of artists and their artworks. This is evident in support for the Singapore Art Museum, an important place for regional contemporary art, as well as the opening of the behemoth National Gallery Singapore, which is an exciting leap ahead for Southeastern Asian art.
In the future, Sandhu predicts that the art scene in Singapore will continue to grow and mature. With a renewed freedom to express themselves and encouragement to do so, artists will continue to examine both Singapore’s culture and history as well as the culture throughout the region. Collectors will continue to fund these endeavors, adding the necessary support for artists’ visions to be realized.
With such a renewed emphasis on art, now is the perfect time to explore the art world by taking an art class. Visit SGArtClass.com today for a comprehensive listing of art classes that you can take. Engage with an expert teacher in a genre of your choosing to start your artistic journey.
To read the question and answer session with Jasdeep Sandhu, go to http://www.blouinartinfo.com/news/story/1338959/national-spotlight-state-of-the-art-scene-in-singapore.