We Should All Be Art Collectors

Young, savvy and known as much for his fashion sense as his Andy Warhol works, Ryan Su makes a case for art collecting

i never liked art collectors or art collecting. I didn’t think these people were genuinely interested in the art for artistic value but as investment. Art collectors are a snobbish and stuffy bunch, with paintings handed down to them from generations before. Art collecting is an exclusive and exclusionary pastime, enjoyed and controlled by only few. Besides these sorts, the other group of people who knew something about art were the professors and curators who worked at universities and museums, dealing with history and antiques. They too, were equally stuffy. Obviously, art and the Art World were not for me.

I have been called an “art collector” in interviews. I never told anyone, but the very mention of those two words made me very uncomfortable, as I do not belong to any of the categories mentioned above. How could it be that by the force of a printed interview, I was suddenly thrust into the Art World and branded an “art collector”? This was the very Art World that was not me and not for me.

Let me talk about the events leading up to that interview. As a lawyer-in-training, I had helped out in the Art & Cultural Property department in a London law firm. I didn’t know then, but this was a huge privilege considering that there are so few dedicated art practices worldwide. I assisted in a plethora of art cases — the restitution of Nazi-looted paintings, stolen Khmer statues, as well as “sleeper” paintings, whose real identities were only just realised and found to be extremely valuable. “Sleepers” are usually sensationalised by the media, as in the case of Leonardo Da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi, which recently sold for over US$400 million.

My favourite cases were when we helped artists, protecting them from the bad guys — galleries that took advantage of them and people who copied their work without permission. Artists are special. They see and feel more than the average person and this makes their work inherently special. Some say that part of the artists’ spirit goes into their work, and through the work, we may be able to realise something about the artists or ourselves or the times that we live in.

This is the first reason why we should collect art. Just look at Mark Rothko’s Colour Field paintings, which comprise few or even just one colour. His intention was for the viewer to be enveloped by his paintings and quietly contemplate them. His monochromatic paintings have gone for close to US$100 million — probably because they contain the artist’s spirit and joie de vivre.

This brings me to the second reason why we should collect art: It is a reflection of our times. I just closed an exhibition at Gillman Barracks that featured artworks selected along the broad themes of social interaction, urban development and everyday life in Asia. Two works were made from bamboo and rattan, while another comprised of a large branch taken from a slum in India that was bulldozed for development. These artworks are snapshots of the times, and of their time. The slum is no longer there, and soon, bamboo and rattan may be much harder to source in quickly urbanising Asia. The artworks also reference harsh realities and livelihoods. Just imagine the depth of meaning that one could uncover when one collects, displays and shares these works.

The third reason why we should collect art, especially contemporary art, is that most of it is relatively affordable — provided you know how and where to look. Art fairs and some galleries are a good place to develop your “eye” for good art. Visiting them is free and you should never feel pressured into buying art. Anyone who pressures you into buying is not someone you want to be dealing with. This is my golden rule. I recommend holding out for at least a year before actually purchasing anything. I have a friend who abstained for much longer to eventual collecting success — whatever you buy during this learning phase you will most probably regret as your “eye” improves.

Very soon, you will be called an “art collector”. For me, I have learnt to accept those two words, but strictly on my own terms.