New art fair opens in the wake of cancelled Art Stage Singapore 

A new boutique art fair S.E.A. Focus has opened this week, following on from the sudden cancellation of Art Stage Singapore, which was supposed to have run from today until Sunday.

As reported in The Strait Times, organisers of Art Stage Singapore cancelled the contemporary art fair just nine days before its planned opening today, likely due to commercial reasons.

Although, the short notice shocked several exhibitors and left them searching for alternative exhibition venues, there has been a groundswell of support from the community, with private venues, galleries and corporate entities offering their spaces to the stranded galleries.

Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu was disappointed and saddened by the decision made by Art Stage Singapore at such short notice but was heartened to see many galleries offering support to the affected exhibitors.

Speaking at the launch of a new boutique art fair S.E.A. Focus on 23rd January, Minister Fu said: "The camaraderie and strong spirit of the arts sector was in full demonstration."

Since Art Stage Singapore’s cancellation, non-profit group Art Outreach organised The ARTery, a new pop-up showcase featuring 14 of the affected galleries at the Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre from 24th January to 27th January. 

"That we can respond so well and so quickly to the situation that Art Stage created shows the network and depth of the Singapore visual arts ecosystem," Minister Fu added.

Regarded by many as Singapore's main art fair, Art Stage Singapore started in 2011 with backing from various government agencies including Economic Development Board (EDB), Singapore Tourism Board (STB), National Heritage Board and National Arts Council (NAC).

Art Stage Singapore’s founder, Swiss national Lorenzo Rudolf, has cited poor local sales and "unequal competition", referring to the new fair S.E.A Focus at Gillman Barracks.

However, as The Straits Times notes, Art Stage Singapore has witnessed a decline in both attendance and sales in recent years. According to Rudolf last year, four-fifths of all galleries that had shown at his fair had refused to return. At Art Stage 2018, there were only 84 exhibitors, compared with 131 in 2017 and 170 in 2016, though some galleries reported decent sales. The Art Stage Singapore website listed only 45 exhibitors for this year's edition.

Marc Straus Gallery's director, Singaporean Ken Tan, spoke to The Straits Times from New York. Tan’s gallery had invested a "five-figure" sum in the fair this year, including paying for the booth at Marina Bay Sands; shipping out 10 pieces by storied Viennese artist Hermann Nitsch; flying in Korean artist Jong Oh, as well as curator Lorand Hegyi, who would have spoken on Nitsch's work at the fair.

The standard rate for a 35 metre2 at Art Stage Singapore was $26,250 this year, according to the application form. Larger booths were more expensive.

Minister Fu now believes the inaugural  S.E.A. Focus, an initiative by STPI - Creative Workshop and Gallery, and one of the highlights of the annual Singapore Art Week, will assist artists and galleries build capabilities as well as position Singapore globally.

"We believe the arts have the power to connect people across communities and nations. As artists, exhibitors and galleries collaborate across boundaries, we can raise awareness of our artistic heritage," said Minister Wu.

This year's S.E.A. Focus, which has 26 participating Singapore and international galleries, is open to the public from 24th January to 27th January. 

Images: UOB Art Space at SEA Focus (top and below) and Grace Fu, Singapore's Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, and senior executives from the National Arts Council Singaporeto tour UOB Art Space at SEA Focus (middle).