PROMPTED by the success of Hong Kong's ArtWalk, now in its seventh year, the Art Galleries Association Singapore has decided to stage a similar event here.
'Art Walk - Galleries by Night' will take people around 16 galleries on two consecutive nights, next Thursday and Friday.
Starting at 6pm from Mica Building where five of the galleries are situated, three free Explorer buses will transport art enthusiasts to each destination. The loop covers 11 other galleries from Holland Avenue to Maxwell Road. 'It's an opportunity for art collectors and tourists to visit all of us with the greatest of ease and convenience,' says Vera Ong, president of the Art Galleries Association.
There will be cheese and a free flow of wine at each gallery, where visitors can move around to view the art at their leisure. Gallery owners will be on hand to answer queries in a pleasant, approachable and unassuming environment - an unparalleled opportunity for novices to gain exposure and information about regional art.
Founded in 1998, the Art Galleries Association is Singapore's only organisation of professional art galleries. The aim, Ms Ong explains, is to 'promote public awareness of the variety and range of art galleries in Singapore and the local art available in Asia'. The association's previous events include Arts Singapore and New Finds, samples of art from different galleries that promote new artists.
Art Walk, says Christina Sui of Yisulang Art Gallery and vice-president of the Art Galleries Association, aims to not only cater to regular clients but also reach out to the wider public to add vibrancy and diversity to the arts scene.
As in Hong Kong with its ArtWalk, the galleries here are situated amid eateries, cafes, bars and delis - a lively environment in which to appreciate the works on display.
Chris Churcher's Red Sea Gallery, which moved to an elegant colonial-style building in Dempsey Road this year, will showcase works by Vietnamese artist Dao Hai Thong and Singapore's Manjeet Shergill and their innovations with traditional oil on canvas. Other highlights are the opening of Malaysian artist Yap Chin Hoe's second solo exhibition at Art Folio, a gallery at Raffles Hotel, and Probir Gupta's Diptych paintings at Bohdi Art, which specialises in Indian contemporary art.
Art Season has curated the Three Female Warriors, an exhibition featuring female Chinese artists Jin Zi, Sun Xiaole and Tan Jie, to parallel the Chinese Pavilion at this year's Venice Biennale, which also featured three female artists. Besides regional artists, there is a strong local contingent, such as Han Sai Poh and Soh Chee Wee exhibiting at Art-2 Gallery, and Chua Ek Kay, Eric Chan, Aaron Teo and Teng Nee Cheong at Gajah Gallery.
Krisstel Martin of Gajah Gallery says of Art Walk: 'We hope it is a foundation for other similar projects. It certainly helps bring art to the public in a fun and exciting way. We believe art walks help to bring collectors together, encourage discourse and heighten appreciation of the arts.'
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