Singapore’s Business Times plumbs the strategic alternatives for Art Stage Singapore in the wake of ArtHK’s hook-up with ArtBasel:
From Singapore’s perspective, it also makes little sense to have an art fair emphasising Western art – as Art HK does, says Mr Rudolf, who concedes that the art on show in Hong Kong was very impressive. ‘For me, there’s too much Western art – I would question if the market is big enough for Western art,’ he says. ‘You have to be more focused in the programme, meaning a focus on Asia. It makes no sense to make a Western fair – an Asian identity is the way to go on.’ He adds that he is far from discouraged by the recent turn of events. ‘Art HK will become more like Basel, and that’s good for us.’ […]
‘Singapore wants quick results in the arts and cultural investments, and they don’t get it as quickly as they would like,’ says Michael Findlay, director of Aquavella Galleries in New York. ‘What seduces galleries and brings them to Hong Kong is the idea that Hong Kong will deliver new money and new collectors from Mainland China, although I’m not sure they will get it – Singapore will deliver Singaporeans, Indonesians and Taiwanese but who else?’
Hong Kong Ups Its Art Game (The Business Times)