A Night at the Gallery
Kim Camacho and Chong Siak Ching, co-chairs of the National Gallery Singapore’s Gallery Benefit 2023, share what you can look forward to at the biennial fundraising gala—and its inaugural after-party
“Art, to me, is my life,” says
Kim Camacho. She and her husband Lito, who divide their time between Singapore and Manila, have been collecting art since 1981. They own some of the most important works of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, who is widely considered as one of the world’s most popular contemporary artists.
Aside from collecting, Camacho is steadfast in her support for the arts and the artistic community, even more so as co-chair of the National Gallery Singapore’s Gallery Benefit 2023, together with the museum’s CEO Chong Siak Ching. The biennial fundraiser, which will be held on November 17 at the gallery’s Supreme Court Terrace, connects philanthropists and art lovers based on their shared interest, “to foster new friendships, and support the National Gallery Singapore, which oversees the world’s largest public collection of Singapore and Southeast Asian modern art”, says Camacho. “What many people don’t realise is how reliant art institutions are on the generous donations of private individuals and corporate sponsors.”
Echoing the sentiment, Chong says, “For the arts to thrive and extend its reach and impact, public funding needs to be supplemented by contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations. This wide network of philanthropic support will ensure a plurality of artistic expression, foster greater innovation and ensure wider access and enjoyment by the community at large, so that everyone can benefit from the transformative power of the arts.”
The theme of the Gallery Benefit this year is Tropical, which takes inspiration from the upcoming special exhibition, Tropical: Stories from Southeast Asia and Latin America, the first large-scale museum exhibition to take a comparative approach of the art from these two geographies of the 20th century. Besides an exciting evening of art appreciation and engaging conversations with artists, collectors and fellow patrons, guests can look forward to tropical-inspired treats curated by some of the museum’s Michelin-starred tenants, from delectable canapes prepared by Art di Daniele Sperindio to a bespoke dinner created by chef Julien Royer of Odette.
Meanwhile, Camacho and her fellow committee members have reached out to their contacts of international and local artists to donate their works that are aligned with the theme for auction. The collection of over 90 items, includes paintings, installations, photographs, sculptures, and experiences.
One of Chong’s picks from the auction is a self-portrait by renowned Singaporean photographer Chua Soo Bin, created in 1972 at the beginning of his career. Camacho, on the other hand, is drawn to Horsepower 999 999 999 by Filipino artist Jet Leyco, who taps on English photographer Eadweard Muybridge’s experiments on the persistence of vision to recalibrate cinema into a single image.
In appreciation of the artists’ support, part of the proceeds from the auction will be shared with the respective artists. The funds raised from the evening will also ensure that “the gallery continues to stage exhibitions of international repute and allow everyone to experience art’s transformative power”, says Chong.
A new addition to the Gallery Benefit this year is the Gallery Underground, its inaugural after-party, which will transform the historical monument into an exhilarating dance floor with DJS from Zouk and Soho House keeping the party blazing through the night. “Designed to provide an experience that is different from the dinner, the Gallery Underground enables us to reach out to a younger or young-at-heart group of patrons to support the gallery’s fundraiser,” explains Chong.
“While becoming a patron may seem daunting, the entry point to these programmes is easier than you may think,” says Camacho. “The Gallery Underground aims to welcome all who are willing to give art a chance to capture their interest.”
Guests will also enjoy a special preview of the exhibition, which features the artworks of leading international artists such as Paul Gauguin (France), Frida Kahlo (Mexico) and Hélio Oiticica (Brazil), in dialogue with regional artists such David Medalla (Philippines), Montien Boonma (Thailand) and Semsar Siahaan (Indonesia). The exhibition opens to the public the day after the gala on November 18, and runs until March 24, 2024.