Singapore has long harbored hope of positioning itself as a contemporary art hub in Asia. With three Biennales, the opening of the Freeport and Art Stage, it has made some headways in that direction. Come May, the govermnet is hoping to add one more piece to the puzzle by opening Gillman Barracks, which is billed as a new “contemporary art destination” in the region. In its usual top down approach, various governments bodies have banded together and “curated” the space by selecting 13 contemporary art galleries as “pioneer tenants” in renovated military barracks outside the center of town.
Each year since 2009, Panerai, an Italian watch brand known for its classic-looking sports watches, has designed a limited-edition Luminor Sealand watch dedicated to a creature from the Chinese Zodiac. The brand releases them exclusively in China with little fanfare, yet the 50 pieces have always sold out.
The latest addition to this series, released this month, is inspired by the art of Chinese paper cutting and features an etching of a dragon piercing through clouds and mist. It is etched onto a brushed steel cover that protects the watch’s sapphire crystal.
Panerai is not the only brand celebrating the Year of the Dragon, which begins next Monday. While some brands have occasionally released a special Chinese zodiac watch — especially when the animal had some broader general appeal like the tiger or horse, rather than goat or ox — everybody seems to be offering to the ever-important Chinese consumer a special edition to remember what is usually considered a very auspicious animal.
L’Aiguille d’Or, the Golden Hand, the most prestigious prize of the Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix, went to De Bethune in November for its DB28 model, a large-dial design featuring an ultralight titanium case.
The 2011 prize choices won rare praise from Gregory Pons, editor of Business Montres & Joaillerie, an independent Web-based newsletter, who called it “the best Grand Prix ever in terms of honesty, independence and relevance.”
That was a far cry from his comments on past awards, when he questioned the selection of winners as having been manipulated in favor of certain brands.
But with the recognition given to De Bethune in November, Mr. Pons said in a recent e-mail, the Grand Prix had finally evolved to become “credible and representative” of the industry, even though, he said, it retained “some imperfections.”
Beijing based Tian Xiaolei creates surreal animated videos and images that engage with the history of Chinese art and the rapidly evolving social, economic, and political realities of contemporary China.
The Singapore Philatelic Museum is ushering the Chinese New Year with an "Imagine Dragons" exhibition with over 300 stamps and philatelic materials dating from 1959 to 2012 that will take children on a quest to explore the world of these imaginary creatures.
While the dragons in the west are often portrayed as evil creatures to be feared, in the east they are respected and sign good fortuner. The Chinese ‘long’ (龙) is the most common dragon in Singapore, and is made up of the parts of at least seven different animals. "Imagine Dragons" exhibition will be from 23 January until December 2012.
She's completely unknown, still a student, but her painting Bob.2 was in a way the "star" lot of the Sovereign Art Prize Singapore auction. While it didn't actually fetched the top prize of the night ($20,000 achieved by Korean-born Om Mee Ai's abstract red piece), Denise Jillian Tan’s painting attracted the most spirited bidding of the night. In less than 40s, the somber portrait soared past its estimated of $2,000-$3,100 to fetch $9,000 as bidders battled it out throughout the room obviously impressed by the technical maturity the young painter is showing.. I say, she's the one to watch!!
Art Stage Singapore has been a beautiful fair with plenty of fresh works by established artists and new, interesting young artists being introduced to collectors, so why are so many galleries unhappy?
This smallish painting by Gerhard Richter sold for 1.2 million euros at Art Stage, which seems to be so far the highest price paid for a work of art at the fair. Michael Schultz Gallery, which sold the Richter, was indeed very happy today as it also managed to sell 2 works from a Chinese artist and 3 works from a Korean one.. But not all galleries were happy, many complained collectors either aren't there or were not buying.. Is the recession biting? or has this more to do with galleries proving a bit more adventurous, with many moving away from secure blue chips to offer artists unknown to many collectors? Or could the Borobudur-Larasati auction, held during the fair right above have canabilized the buyers?
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| Mr Feremod of Sephec |
While Art Stage Singapore is still in full swing there were plenty of other interesting “satellite”exhibition openings this week. Among them was “Strange Dreams” by young Vietnamese artist Pham Huy Thong at Ernst & Young office.
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| Money in Hand |
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| Chan-Hyo Bae's Existing in Costume Sleeping Beauty |
Amongst my favorite works is a photograph by Chan-Hyo Bae, a London-based artist who has been exmining representative western fair tales, examining how social classes are present and defined in these stories and how they contain tacit messages that the weak should obey the order designed by the strong in order to enjoy happiness.
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| Photo: Katie Sargent |
The colourful herd of 162 baby elephants appeared in Singapore almost overnight, popping up around shopping centres, museum and gardens. The fiberglass sculptures were immediately mobbed by children and adults alike, with the most eye-catching elephants attracting a queue of happy snappers around them. Some of these very special Elephants (38) are coming for auction tonight by Sotheby's at the St Regis at an invited dinner, while the rest will be auction on Saturady at the Goodwood Park Hotel. Part of the proceeds will go to helping elephant causes.
The opening of Art Stage Singapore drew international collectors from Asia and the West, thought artists appeared to be a bit thin on the ground. Julian Isaac and Wim Delvoye walked the floor, while Manit Sriwanichpoom and Natee Utarit could be found at the booth of the galleries representing them. Bernar Venet and one of the Gao Brothers (the other one had to stay in NY) were doing the round of interviews as journalists latched onto well-known names.
First impressions: the fair is better laid out than last year; there are large installations peppered throughout (as opposed the large Ai Weiwei tucked at the back of the fair last year); galleries are adopting a less is more attitude with few works on the walls, but those tend to be on the really big side; fewer Chinese artists than usual; quite a lot of sounds installations; very little pop art (when Murakami was dominating last year)..... overall a lot of fresh new works. Early sales were reportedly slow though, but this may have a lot to do with the fact that galleries are often showing a new generation of artists...not a bad thing actually...
Singapore museums and heritage galleries will once again usher the Year of the Dragon with a series of complimentary Hongbaos (the red envelop you give at weddings or for the new year with money inside).
One of the most significant paintings by Sayed Haider Raza ever to appear on the market - Village With Church from 1958 - will be among the highlights of Sotheby’s March Asia Week sales in New York. The painting was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller III from the landmark 1958-59 exhibitionTrends in Contemporary Painting In India and remained in their historic collection until 1994.
It is an acronym of the Korean word “우리[wuri]” which refers to “we” and Korean word meaning “fence.” It embodies the concept of the Museum as “our own museum, which is always with us.”
Coach has collaborated with street artist Zhang Lan to produce a limited edition range of dragon-emblazoned fine leather goods
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| Mantofani |