#MyAffordableArt in Singapore

(Janice Tan, Architect / Urban Designer with Love Is Like A Pineapple by Natasha Barnes)

Within a decade since its founding in London, Affordable Art Fair arrived on Singapore’s shores, bringing the joy of encountering and collecting art to this cosmopolitan city. Since the first Singapore fair in 2010, over 190,000 people have visited and taken home over 16,000 affordable artworks to spruce up their living spaces. After 3 years, Affordable Art Fair Singapore makes its return to the Little Red Dot on 18 – 20 November 2022 at the F1 Pit Building with a diverse curation of contemporary artworks looking for a home.

Home is where the heart is. Over the pandemic, the ordinary communal space of Home became so much more significant as a place for work and life to coexist. We naturally looked for ways to improve and beautify our homes – be it from getting a new chair, desk plant or wall decor. If you are looking for a piece to call #MyAffordableArt, you’re in the right place. Read ahead for collector stories to motivate your new (or next) art buy at our upcoming fair!

Meet #MyAffordableArt Collectors in Singapore

Janice Tan, Architect / Urban Designer

Tell us about the artworks that you’ve purchased at Affordable Art Fair Singapore.

I’ve been visiting the fair since 2016 and each year I’ve come home with a new artwork. The first year I purchased a piece called “King Island” by Australian artist Carol Roche, and the second piece from 2017 is called “Love is Like a Pineapple” by South African artist Natasha Barnes. In 2018, I bought another piece created by Natasha, “Don’t Waste Time Looking Back”.

When you bought your painting at the fair in 2016, was this your first ever art purchase?

Yes! “King Island” was first piece of art I have ever bought and owned.

What inspired you to buy art?

During my first visit to the fair, I was getting ready to move out of my parents’ place and into my own pad. I wanted a modern, minimalist feel for my apartment, filled with art that made me happy. Today, my apartment is no longer as minimalist since it’s filled with plants, but the art pieces that I’ve hung on the walls really set the tone and colour scheme for the rooms they are hanging in.

Do you have any advice or tips for first-time buyers?

Buy pieces that speak to you and that spark joy. The value of the artwork is what you place on it. Everyone has different tastes in art, so there is no right or wrong. Sometimes your decision could be based on how the piece makes you feel – the emotions that are stirred up; or it could be based on the story behind the artwork.

It doesn’t matter whether the artist is able to convey that story verbally in a face-to-face interaction at the fair or through the artwork itself, as long as it speaks to you. With that said, I still take time to speak to the artist, if he/she happens to be around.    

Christopher Chua and Nicolas Laville, Co-founder and Creative Director of KulorGroup (Hospitality and Interior Design Consultancy)

Can you tell us about your #myaffordableart works?

The first piece of artwork we bought from Affordable Art Fair Singapore was from ArtBlue Studio. An iconic oil on canvas piece by Bui Van Hoan that I fell in love with when I was researching for artwork pieces for another client for their living space.

We were walking through the fair when we came to ArtBlue Studio and saw other pieces by the artist, but they weren’t quite right. In the end, they pulled out the perfect piece, and we were immediately so enamoured that we purchased it for ourselves instead of the client!

Was it your first art purchase?

No. We’re avid collectors of independent art pieces, sculptures, vintages posters and pieces all over the world. We love our collections to represent who we are and our personality.

Another much loved and talked about piece that we bought at the Affordable Art Fair was our Zen Trooper from TAG Fine Arts. And another year, we commissioned two portraits by Phuong Quoc Tri of ArtBlue Studio, because we saw a similar piece displayed in the fair.

What was your main motivation for buying art?

Our home is a large shophouse and we have multiple spaces and walls with different personas in each room. We wanted our living space to be a haven, hence we picked Bui Van Hoan’s piece as it was calming, subtle and nuanced. It brought a serenity to the space and a tonal aspect that felt appropriate.

Do you have any advice or tips for first time art buyers?

The work has to speak to you personally. It’s easy to get caught up in trends or what’s in, especially in our age of social media and transience. Classic timeless pieces that makes you feel happy and tell your own personal stories will never become out of date. It doesn’t matter whether your friends would appreciate it, it has to be personal.        

Heather Riley, Business Owner of Diva Productions

What did you buy at Affordable Art Fair Singapore?

This fun-loving artwork titled “Vessel – Chanel” which portrays a Chanel bottle on a pink background by artist Leo Liu. His work is a reflection of personal identity embedded within popular culture. This piece caught my attention when I visited the fair a few years ago and still is one of my favourite artworks.

What drew you to the artwork?

The colour of the artwork, the subject of fashion that is infused with a quirky element of childishness drew me to his work. As I learnt more about the idea behind this seemingly simplistic artwork, which reflects our current societal influences, it just made me love it even more.

Do you have any advice or tips for first time art buyers?

Buy art that really appeals to you and that you think you will still love in 20 years!

Laura Lim, Deputy Director in Public Service

Tell us about the artworks that you’ve purchased at Affordable Art Fair Singapore.

My first piece was by an artist called Max Zorn who created a portrait of Audrey Hepburn. Max amazed me with his use of duct tape to create beautiful art pieces.

The one that I bought was built over an old wooden tea box and with a light illuminating the artwork from behind. After that I started collecting other affordable pieces of work from various galleries every year.

Was it your first piece of art?

Yes it was!

What was your main motivation for buying art?

I’d never seen this form of art before; also, I got to meet Max in person and he was very affable, he taught us how to put the tape together and what shared what he was inspired by. His passion was contagious, and I love his form of art and expression.

The other motivating factor also included the price – it helped that the first piece was affordable, and it added such a nice touch to my room. After this first piece, I was enticed to get more artworks to beautify the smaller spaces in my house.

Do you have any advice or tips for first time art buyers?

I’m not sure if I am in the best position to offer advice and tips, as it can get quite addictive, especially if you see pieces of art that you fall in love with and can afford them.

I think it’s important that the artwork speaks to you; the ones that you are drawn to are the ones that emotionally resonate with you somehow – it could be the medium, the colours or the material used, but all in all – it should make you feel happy. It would not be prudent to spend money on art and not enjoy it!

Art should be something you can enjoy and afford to indulge in, so for those who are starting to buy or collect art, Affordable Art Fair Singapore is definitely the right place to be!

Why not follow Laura’s advice and join us at the upcoming Affordable Art Fair Singapore (18 – 20 November, F1 Pit Building) for our 15th edition? Tickets are now on sale, and don’t forget to follow our Instagram and Facebook channels to stay up to date with our fair line-up. Be there or be square!