Filipinos at Singapore Art Week
OF THE 132 galleries representing 27 countries in Art Stage Singapore, three are from the Philippines: 1335Mabini; Art Informal; and The Drawing Room. Overall, the number of fair exhibitors is down from last year’s edition, which featured 170 galleries.
“To be very frank, it was surely more difficult than in the past to bring galleries to a fair,” said Lorenzo Rudolf, founder of Art Stage Singapore. Given the prevailing sociopolitical and economic uncertainties, he said that it was “logical” that galleries would be tighter with their spending. “Many galleries begin to count and look at their budgets,” he said. “It’s no longer thinking ‘what should I do to position myself more’ but ‘where can I reduce costs’?.” Still, the Art Stage founder hopes that the drop in gallery participation will be countered by the presence of more collectors from Southeast Asia.
Luigi Singson, gallery manager of 1335Mabini, remains upbeat about the fair, which opens to the public on Jan. 12 and runs until Jan. 15. “With its capacity to draw individuals and organizations that we are keen on connecting with or sustaining existing relationships with, Art Stage Singapore is still a convergence point brimming with opportunities for short-term and long-term goals,” said Mr. Singson.
Not all galleries think the same way. Silverlens has chosen once again to skip the fair, which anchors Singapore Art Week, in favor of Shared Coordinates, a collaboration with two other galleries based in Asia. “We feel that it is better to present an experience outside of Art Stage Singapore. It is more cost-effective and impactful. We spend much much less doing this, with, hopefully, the same number of clients and friends coming to see it,” said Isa Lorenzo, Silverlens founder. “Not doing Art Stage Singapore does not mean we are not doing anything in Singapore. Art Stage Singapore is not Singapore. We very much participate in the bigger picture, which is Singapore Art Week.”
Commenting on Ms. Lorenzo’s partnership with two other Asian galleries, Mr. Rudolf said that it was “an intelligent move” but reiterated that the region has to present a more united front to the global market, regardless of the venue. “Don’t misunderstand me: Everything doesn’t have to be in Singapore. Singapore is now the fair that we are doing — that’s the platform — but we have to think about how we position ourselves.”
Below is a rundown of where to see Filipino artists during Singapore Art Week: Celdran Tence “Bogie Ruiz” Mark Justiniani & Isabel Aquilizan Pacita Abad “Peewee” Roldan, Nilo Ilarde Geraldine Javier, Leslie de Chavez