A recent art auction at a world renowned auction house was already historic because it planned on featuring only art from Singapore — the first time such a thing had happened at the venue. However, something even more special happened during the auction: an oil painting by a Singaporean artist broke previous records with a sale of S$1.408 million.
The painting in question, “Balinese Dance” by Cheong Soo Pieng, was the record setter, even beating out the artist’s previous high sale at auction. The work itself is a bright depiction of costumed women surrounding a masked being, a work with riotous color and active movement. In all, the auction of the Singaporean art fell within 97 percent of the estimated high sale of the auction, held at Christie’s in Hong Kong. The vast majority of the art presented at the auction exceeded the estimates for their sales. Cheong wasn’t the only record-setter, with many other artists surpassing the high prices of previous sales.
The only artist who is still living who set records during the Christie’s auction, Lee Hock Moh, said that it was a good feeling to have his art valued. His large artwork took him a solid quarter of the year to complete, and the payoff was that the individuals who purchased the artwork at auction appreciated his hard work. The quadriptych masterpiece — an artwork completed by four separate panels — outsold his previous record-setting auction by a wide margin. Though it’s rare for artists to make art solely for the money, the prices that such work can command acts as an affirmation that the work is valued and a motivating factor for the artists to continue working diligently to create the best work possible.
The founder of an art organization responsible for promoting Singaporean artists’ works said that this is the time for the nation’s masterpieces and those who create them to rise to the forefront of the art world’s attention. Especially now, with the opening of National Gallery Singapore, many more art critics across the globe are paying closer attention to the artistic offerings of creative minds in Singapore. This will translate to more sales of art in galleries and in auctions, as well as a heightened curiosity from collectors for art coming out of Singapore.
Take part in Singapore’s art renaissance by signing up for an art class via SGArtClass.com. Even if you’ve never taken an art class before, our website compiles only the best art classes so that you can find one perfect for your skill level and schedule. You can choose to invite one of our expert teachers into your home to teach you everything from sketching to oil painting, or attend a group class at a conveniently located art studio. The instructor is ready to work with you on what you’d like to learn, focus on, and return to — all within your schedule and budget.
To learn more about the outcome of the historic auction, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/auction-records-set-at-landmark-sale-of-singapore-art.