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)

The Financial Times talks to Lorenzo Rudolf, who runs Art Stage Singapore, on the eve of Art HK. Rudolf articulates a very good opposition between ASS and ArtHK. Hong Kong is a gateway to the Chinese market but Singapore is more oriented toward Southeast Asia, a market Rudolf sees as vibrant and appealing:

“Singapore is a small, neutral, multicultural place at the crossroads of China, India and south-east Asia. So there you have the three biggest art scenes, the three biggest art markets and the three fastest-growing economies. Singapore is a wealth management hub and destination for many affluent people from south-east Asia, the Gulf states, Australia and China.” […]

“Singapore has proved quite interesting. There are collectors who are not only interested and professional but are incredibly involved in the international scene. But they are all somewhat hidden. […] Indonesia is quite another picture. “When I was still in Shanghai, I wanted to do some promotional event as I heard that Indonesia had quite an interesting scene with some passionate collectors. One day someone casually said that he had a friend who would be willing to help. I flew down with my wife, thinking, if we could meet 30, 40 people, that would be great. When we arrived at the house of this collector, Deddy Kusuma in Jakarta, he had his entire collection installed and there was a set-up for a TV debate and 700 people turned up.

“Many westerners still think Asia is only China. Those who have had the opportunity of passing through this part of Asia have come back totally surprised. They tell me, ‘China is only the tip of the iceberg.’ The thrill is in the discovery of the new and, sometimes, at greatly affordable prices.”

The Next Stage (Financial Times)