Deborah Koh
Lower those eyebrows, ladies and gentlemen. Art collecting isn’t just for the rich and privileged any more – not with the Affordable Art Fair (AAF) in town.
Opening on Nov 18 at the F1 Pit Building, the AAF was founded by Will Ramsay in London in 1996 to bring the hobby, which is often perceived as highbrow and only for the rich and privileged, to the masses.
This year marks the second time AAF’s been held here, and at 30% bigger than last year’s, it hopes to draw more than 12,000 visitors to snap up contemporary art pieces ranging in price from as low as $100 to $10,000, with the bulk priced under $7,500.
Born and raised in the sunny city-state herself, Camilla Hewitson, AAF Singapore’s Fair Director, speaks to The UrbanWire about the event’s planning, her personal relationship with art, and the arts scene here.
How did the idea of the Affordable Art Fair come about?
Will Ramsay founded the Affordable Art Fair in order to break down the perceived barriers around buying contemporary art. He owned a gallery in London and found that many of his contemporaries shied away from art claiming they didn’t have an art history degree or pockets big enough to afford contemporary art! Hence Will’s vision of making art accessible to everyone was born.
Why is AAF interested in bringing art collecting to the masses?
AAF has proved since 1999 that original artworks made by living artists are something that many people want to own in their homes. This assumption that art is only for the rich and privileged is something that all AAF teams around the world strive to change! AAF is a great place to come and discover hundreds of artworks for a price in your budget range.
Can you describe your own relationship with art over the years?
I had an incredibly inspiring teacher when I was at school called Mr Rutter who ran the Art History department. He gave a lecture when I was 15 on John Constable’s paintings (an English landscape artist) and a light switch was turned on in my mind. His insight into art history led me to take it as an A-Level subject and follow it as a Masters degree. I worked in galleries before I joined the art fair world with Art Dubai and now AAF. Art has played a major part in my life since those early days and I feel very lucky to be able to work in an industry that I love!
Why did you choose Singapore as the first Asian location for the AAF?
Singapore was a natural first choice for an AAF in Asia due to its mixture of galleries, dynamic museum scene and a focus on the arts led by the government. AAF is proudly supported by the National Arts Council.
What went into the planning of the event?
First thing first and that was to find a great venue that fits our fun and accessible brand and the F1 Pit Building did just that! Free parking and a large warehouse-type space has meant that it is a cool destination for all AAF visitors.
The next step was to sign on galleries and suppliers such as stand builders, security, and marketing agencies before rolling out our communication strategy to drive an attendance of 9,000 visitors at our first fair. Organising an art fair is varied and made interesting by all the different parties involved to make it a success. We could not do it without everyone’s support and unending dedication.
As someone born and raised in Singapore, how do think most Singaporeans view the arts today? Have these perceptions changed over the past few years?
I think that “arts” is a buzzword here in Singapore and more and more people are getting interested in all areas of art from visual to performance. This is testament to the sterling work the arts industry (galleries, museums, art fairs and so on) have put into building awareness for the arts and creating a thriving scene.
How do you feel about recent attempts to raise the profile of art here? (e.g. events like this, the Singapore Arts Festival, schools like the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and School of the Arts, etc.) Can more be done?
I think it is wonderful to have as much focus on the arts as possible – this way we will see more local artists given the opportunity to shine locally as well as internationally. Platforms are needed from prizes, biennales, museum shows, art schools and so on to be the catalyst for creativity and this is what we are witnessing in Singapore. At AAF Singapore, we are proud to have a Recent Graduate Exhibition showcasing students works from Lasalle and NAFA as well as some 37 galleries from Singapore exhibiting!
Art aficionados, mark your calendars for Affordable Art Fair on Nov 18-20!
Details
Dates: Nov 18 – 20 (Fri – Sun)
Venue: F1 Pit Building (1 Republic Boulevard)
Opening Times
Friday 18 November 11am – 6pm
Friday 18 November 6pm – 10pm (Arty-Licous Evening)
Saturday 19 November 11am – 8pm
Sunday 20 November 11am – 6pm
Ticket Prices
SISTIC advanced sales:
General Admission: $8
Arty-Licious Evening: $25
Group Package (4 adults): $25
At the door:
General Admission: $10
Arty-Licious Evening: $30
Students & Seniors: $7
Group Package (4 adults): $30