Buying art in Singapore
As a metropolitan hub of Southeast Asia, there are undoubtedly plenty of options for you to buy art in Singapore - be it for your home, office or business. Not that location is much of a blocker these days: any half decent site selling art online will ship internationally to your doorstep. However, there certainly is a uniqueness in the Singapore art scene available for purchase. Here are my thoughts.
What art can I buy in Singapore?
Singapore has the luxury of being in the heart of Southeast Asia, with countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and Myanmar being just a bird's flight away. This also means, art from these locations will easily reach Singapore like little gifts from Santa Claus. And wow, there is a whole lot of creativity and skill to be impressed by. As with the people of Singapore, cultures clash, marry, synergize and create new ideas for art all the time.
You will amongst others find incredible paintings, sculptures, literature, architecture, film and music and off course photography. If for decoration or collection, it’s here - you just need to know where to look!
Where can I buy art in Singapore?
For those who have done some Google’ing, three things will become painfully obvious:
While you will find “the usual” art galleries on all the top 10 lists, but there are also hundreds of smaller galleries out there. Sheesh, where do we start looking?! Well, unless you’re super specific in what you are looking for, there will be some browsing ahead of you.
There is no shortage of high quality paintings available for purchase in Singapore. Phenomenal talent and a wide selection at reasonable prices! Ah, the luxury of choice - power to the buyer. Known and unknown artists, a friend of a friend, some guy in the jungle of Vietnam: you’ll surely find an artist with a style you like if paintings are what you’re into.
There is actually very little art photography being offered in Singapore! Subtracting those big international mass-producing art conglomerate sites, where you can order anything from a photoshopped photo of a pink dolphin breakdancing to portraits of Harald V of Norway, you’ll find just a few shops here and there focusing on high-end, or luxury art photography.
How to buy art in Singapore?
At minimum, a vague idea of the type of art you want will be a good start. An attention drawing centerpiece for the living room? Something unique to compliment a certain style? A collectors piece not for display? Maybe you wish to create calmness in your room? How about something grande to brag about? Is it an investment or simply decoration? Once you know, it will make your search much easier: seeking advice from friends / family, speaking with an interior designer, artist or art advisor - have a vision!
Determine a cost ceiling. If you’re anything like me, that ceiling will keep getting higher and higher as you search (ouch!). However, in Singapore, you’ll find art in all price ranges. Note that expensive isn’t a determining factor of “good art”, but the saying “buy cheap, pay twice” also applies. Take low-cost art photography prints as an example: not all papers, print methods and mounting are equal. Color shifting, anti-reflection, anti-static, abrasion, UV protection, etc. will vary in quality along with cost. And you’d be surprised by the extreme mark-up that certain galleries and exhibitions have for questionable quality! If you manage to cut out the “middle-man”, you’ll save a lot of cost (hint, hint).
Shortlist: give yourself some options. Pick a few pieces that you enjoy and really envision these in a real life scenario on display. Does this piece look great on the screen? It might look different in real life. Does this piece look awesome in the gallery or exhibition? Your place will likely NOT have the same lighting. Is it just you that likes the piece? Well, ask your loved ones how they feel. Also, get a more accurate gut-feeling by speaking with the artist if possible. Whatever you need to do to feel comfortable with your choice!
Don’t miss the details. Before you make a final choice, consider:
What are the maintenance efforts for this art piece?
If I need to hang it, how? Do I even have a drill?
Is the size suitable? You wouldn't want a too small or large piece: think carefully of the size of the room or wall.
For wall art, do I need to frame it? Which means an increase in size and cost!
Am I dealing with a sales-rep or the artist directly? Who will have my best interest in mind?
How will I feel about the piece in 5-10 years? Will it even last that long?
Humidity. Singapore is humid. Will this affect the art piece?
Sunlight and general lighting: do you need artificial illumination? Exposure to sunlight will be ok?
Etc.!
Buy, ship and hang! Doublecheck for any shipping damages before and when unpacking it - this is usually your only chance to let the vendor know of any faults. Display it sturdily: you never know what curious hands would want to touch a great looking fine art piece. Enjoy!
Conclusion
Singapore is an awesome place for art. You’ll discover phenomenal yet unknown artists and new ideas. There is something for everyone: if it’s a casual piece or something more luxurious. While high-end art photography pieces are still not widely available, there is surely no shortage of paintings and other art forms. With a wide selection, it pays off to be somewhat specific in your search for art. But be aware of what you’re paying for! Ultimately, consider a piece that you truly enjoy in both heart and head.
For my own website and art photography prints, I take pride in knowing that only the best quality the industry has to offer goes out to my clients. With direct relationships to the print and framing shops, there is no middle-man that would increase costs and all cost savings go directly to you. And you’ll always have a direct line to myself, no chatbots, organisational charts or sales reps. Ok, that’s enough plugging for one article.