Bridging the Gap
Consulting firm Asia Art Initiative fosters meaningful collaborations between artists and luxury brands, as shared by
n many parts of the globe, the art realm has allowed itself to become more inclusive and less intimidating, drawing in a growing audience that is keen to learn more. Artists, gallery owners, and educators, among others, have been actively working towards bringing art closer to the people, not just through exhibitions and workshops, but through collaborations with other facets of lifestyle such as fashion, design, and even music. Such is the primary aim of Asia Art Initiative (AAI), a consulting firm established two years ago by its principal, art advisor, collector, and entrepreneur Pablo Rudolf.
Rudolf ’s foray into the art world was nature taking its course as he is the son of Art Stage Singapore and Jakarta founders Lorenzo and Maria Elena Rudolf. After assisting in the development of the family business for the better part of five years, he decided to shift his focus by starting a new venture. “AAI is a platform geared towards making contemporary artworks, more accessible, but in such a way that their status as objets d’art is not compromised. For Art Stage, I worked closely with several luxury lifestyle brands that were interested in establishing a connection between their labels and the contemporary art world. Since they were keen to explore the possibilities, we started to bring some discussions to the table. That strong network became the initial base for what AAI is today,” he relates.
AAI also takes pride in connecting lesser known artists with brands through meaningful collaborations that can help bolster their careers. Unlike the world-renowned ones, who are commissioned for projects by large labels time and time again, artists who have not yet established such a clout are faced with significantly greater challenges when it comes to marketing themselves. Whenever a collaboration is in the works, AAI introduces a carefully curated selection of artists—based on shared values, aesthetics, and objectives— to the brand. And because AAI banks on