Interviews
Meet REDSEA Gallery
Meet the man behind REDSEA Gallery, Chris Churcher! As the founder of REDSEA Gallery, Chris shares the vision behind REDSEA Gallery, their curatorial approach, and why they always join one of the Affordable Art Fairs around the world.
Coco Ma Hiu Lam
Tuesday 3 October, 2023
What inspired you to found REDSEA Gallery back in 2002?
We opened for business in early 2002 and the idea for a gallery, accessible to all types of art buyer was formed back in 1998 when I was still pounding the treadmill of a corporate job. There was a lack of galleries and certainly a lack of user-friendly galleries in Singapore back then. There was an abundance of art throughout many countries in the region but seemingly not in Singapore.
What made you decide to join Affordable Art Fair, and what keeps you coming back each year?
I first read about Affordable Art Fair in the UK during a journey back to my country of birth, in early 2000. There was an article which featured a single mum who’d purchased a piece of art for around £500 I think it was.
Having never stepped foot into an art gallery before, she went on to say how Affordable Art Fair had enabled her to buy her first piece of art. Something she’d never dreamed of doing and something she thought was only possible for a certain type of person; let’s say those who knew about art, or those in the higher income bracket. I resonated with this.
Entering an art gallery can be intimidating as it has been for me in the past. To a certain extent, it still is sometimes. I think that depends on the gallery and the people behind it.
We are part of the Affordable Art Fair family because we try to be that friendly accessible gallery.
Art doesn’t have to be expensive to make it good.
We’ve been established for nearly 22 years now – so I believe our approach is liked by most.
What is your curatorial approach, and what do you look for when discovering artists to work with?
We work with visual artists from around the world. This gives everyone in Singapore the opportunity to view art which they may never get to see unless they travel. We don’t narrow it down to one particular style or genre of art either.
Generally, we exhibit paintings and sculpture but because of the beautiful gallery space we have, we’ve also enjoyed performing artists at the gallery. We hosted an evening of music, fun and frivolity for our clients with two leading cellists, one from the Singapore Symphony orchestra, one from the London Philharmonic and a few glasses of the good stuff.
What advice would you give to somebody who wants to make a living from their art practice?
Go for it and keep going. Don’t be afraid to change direction whenever you feel you’ve taken a wrong turn.
What advice do you have for new collectors looking to start their art buying journey in Singapore?
It’s an old one but in my book the only way – buy what you like and don’t be dissuaded. If you’re dithering on a piece of art, take your time, sleep on it and if you wake up the next morning thinking about it, that’s your piece of art. If you don’t, it’s not.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given, not just in art but in life?
If you are going to do something – do it properly.
You’ll find REDSEA Gallery at Stand 2A-01 at Affordable Art Fair Singapore from 10 – 12 November 2023.