How Singapore Promotes the Southeast Asian Art Scene in the Global Art Market.

What is it about?

This chapter explores the role of major cities in shaping the global art market, focusing on how they create regional identities like "African," "Asian," or "Middle Eastern" art. It argues that "hub cities" like Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Miami are crucial in this process. They attract international art players and link various national art scenes, thus influencing how we perceive art from different parts of the world. The paper specifically examines Singapore's efforts to establish itself as the center of Southeast Asia's art market. Singapore's approach involves unifying the diverse art markets of Southeast Asia. It does this by promoting a collective Southeast Asian aesthetic, moving beyond national labels. Additionally, key players in Singapore, like art institutions, galleries, and fairs, work to connect artists and collectors across the region. They do so by showcasing art that resonates with themes and symbols common to Southeast Asian countries, making the art relatable and accessible across national borders. This strategy helps to build a cohesive Southeast Asian art scene, both in symbolic and practical terms.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

This study coincides with a growing interest in non-Western art markets. As global attention shifts towards these emerging markets, understanding their development, strategies, and influence becomes crucial for artists, collectors, dealers, curators and scholars. The chapter highlights the strategic role of 'hub cities' like Singapore in linking diverse national art scenes, offering a fresh lens to understand how regional art markets are shaped and perceived globally. By examining the construction of a Southeast Asian art scene, the work reveals how regional identities are crafted and presented on the global stage. This is important in understanding the dynamics of cultural representation and the power of art as a tool for regional identity formation.

Perspectives