Affordable Art Returns

Arts | Written By, NOW!Singapore | June 4th, 2017

The popular Affordable Art Fair Singapore will return for its Spring Edition at the F1 Pit Building from April 7 – 9. With the region’s art lovers and collectors ever eager to discover new talent amongst the vibrant contemporary art world in Singapore, this should be an exciting event for all concerned.

Over 300 local and foreign artists will take part in the show, with artworks on display from four continents. This year, more than half of the participating galleries are Asia-based, while 20% of the galleries will be exhibiting for the first time. The fair’s line-up includes the newly participating KimJaeSun Gallery from South Korea, which will exhibit the sculpture works of Byun Dae Yong. Returning gallery Shonandai Gallery from Tokyo, features acrylic on canvas artworks by Kei Yasaka while Art Porters of Singapore returns to present works by Chiang Lup Hong from Malaysia and Justin Lim from Singapore.

Continuing its support of charity, the Affordable Art Fair’s Charity Feature Wall – Let Art Speak – returns to offer artworks by 42 artists. Promoting the work of new artists, and contributing to those in need, last year’s wall raised S$26,500 for the Woodbridge Hospital Charity Fund (WHCF). All displayed work will feature various mediums and themes and will retail at S$500. 50% of the money raised will go towards supporting art therapy initiatives aimed at improving the lives of the mentally ill in Singapore while the remaining 50% will go back to the artists.

As always, the fair’s ‘Art Education Programme,’will offer workshops and art tours, including the return of the popular Gallery Speed Dating tours. The Children’s Art Studio will also provide a range of complimentary sculpture workshops. These will be run by Playeum, a Singapore-based children’s centre for creativity. Designed for children aged four and up, these will encourage them to develop their imagination, while giving their parents the freedom to enjoy the art on display. This year, The Children’s Art Studio will present ‘Knock, Knock! Who Lives there?’ Developed by Playeum and artist Isabelle Desjeux, this series of activities and installations invites children to inspect insect specimens and other creatures and record what they see, providing a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with the animal world in an interdisciplinary way.

According to Fair Director, Mr Alan Koh, “In a relatively new and still developing art market, there continues to be a need to educate our audience as it acquires a taste for art and craves creativity. For more than seven years we have been bringing attainable art to Singapore, helping visitors to become more indoctrinated and informed. We strive to accomplish that by offering art in a relatable context of progammes which is non-intimidating and filled with fun and engaging ways to learn about art.”

Also returning to the fair, artist collective, WOWWOWWOW will present site-specific installations throughout the fair, as well as a hands-on interactive booth. Here they will use plaster as a medium to create a ‘cave’ out of their stand, encouraging visitors to paint on it.

The fair has also partnered with stroller company, Bugaboo, on a project involving three artists, Leo Liu from Singapore, Dani King Heriyanto from Indonesia and Lim Khim Katy from Vietnam. Here the artists will create signature artworks on the stroller’s canopy.