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ARTS&LEISURE
190
November14
Tips of the Trade
Especially for the inexperienced art buyer, selecting the
right piece for you can be a bit overwhelming. Fair director
CAMILLA HEWITSON shares some pointers on tackling
the Fair like a pro.
What makes the Affordable Art Fair concept so
different?
The fact that the Fair provides a fantastic learning ground
for first-time buyers who are interested in contemporary art;
quite often, they become collectors. It’s a relaxed and easy
platform to view a great variety of art under one roof – a
place where you can meet gallery owners, and sometimes
the artists themselves. Growing affluence in Asia, coupled
with a growing interest in collecting, is seeing the Fair
become a trusted resource for people with an interest in
contemporary art. But it’s not just about new collectors;
many experienced collectors come to test their eyes and
see if they can find an up-and-coming artist whom they
can track in the future.
The Fair has brought, and continues to bring, a new
generation of collectors into the market here. It helps to
break down barriers, proving that art isn’t only for the rich;
this means that new buyers don’t feel intimidated. In doing
so, it has initiated an important change to the Singapore
art market, by making art accessible to everyone.
What are some important things to consider
before heading to the Fair?
To take full advantage of all the Fair has to offer, check
the programming schedule available on our website
(affordableartfair.com) so you don’t miss anything
interesting. We are offering a number of art talks on a range
of topics, including how to begin an art collection and how
to frame and preserve works. There are also live demos and
workshops in the multi-disciplinary workshop area, where
you can learn, hands-on, how to create an artwork.
Also, don’t miss our Friday night Arty-Licious Evening,
a fun night of music, food and drinks, including a live
painting performance; it will provide a great insight into
the up-and-coming local artists featured at the Fair.
How do you know when you’ve found “the one”?
It’s a good idea to take time to consider an artwork that has
caught your eye. When you step away from it for a while
and you just cannot get it out of your head, you know you
More Helpful Hints
• Do a little pre-Fair prep by measuring the spaces
you’re looking to fill
• Wear comfortable shoes for walking
• Pace yourself – don’t rush!
$1,000 TO $5,000
From top left:
• Chrysalis 2
by Ashley Yeo, watercolour and graphite on paper (80x60), $1,700;
Art Forum
(Singapore)
• You Will Always Be My Baby
by Liu Fei, oil on canvas (120x90), $4,000;
Y2Arts
(Singapore)
• Eye of History 06
by Marc Quinn, etching (90x91); edition of 69; $4,200;
Manifold Editions
(UK)
• Floral Dragon (Gold Leaf)
by Jacky Tsai, screenprint with gold leaf (73x73); edition of 20;
$3,845;
Eyestorm
(UK)