This edition of the Affordable Art Fair Singapore (AAF) has brought 80 art galleries from around the world to offer first time and existing art buyers the opportunity to purchase work at reasonable prices. 63% of the galleries participating are from Asia and the rest are from the UK, the USA, France, Australia and beyond.  Interestingly, 40% of the artists exhibiting are new and 22 galleries have been introduced for the first time so fair goers can expect get acquainted with emerging as well as established artists and galleries.  On view is an array of artworks from installations, photography, performance art, drawing, calligraphy, sculpture, street art and ceramics.

Luo Dan, Balance Series 2, Affordable Art Fair Singapore 2018. Image Rupert Harding Newman.

Several internationally recognised artists are showcasing their work around the fair in special project installations.  China’s Luo Dan is exhibiting his Balance series and Malaysia’s James Seet’s Daydreamers can both be seen at the entrance to level 2. Cha Jaeyoung, from South Korea’s work entitled Journey# (Peroni) can be seen at two locations around the festival – level 1 Entrance and the Creative Hub level 3. The UK’s Dean (Zeus) Coleman comment on the contemporary art market in his clever hand-painted interactive Artopoly installation, can be found and interacted with in the created hub on level 3.

Arya Wirawan, Silent Pray, Affordable Art Fair Singapore 2018. Image Rupert Harding Newman

Other highlights are the exhibitions for the Young Talent Program’s winners.  The seventh edition features emerging artists under thirty five who are born or live in SE Asia. The program introduces and supports them on their artistic journey.  This year features 8 artists, including Arya Wirawan, Joanne Pang and Atsudo Mochida. Work by four alumni are also exhibiting, including Alecia Neo and Lavender Chang. An impressive and diverse body of work. Also this year’s Spotlight of 15 handpicked artists from all over the world that have never exhibited before at AAF can be found in the Creative Hub on level 3.    

Huang Yu Long, Be My Side, Affordable Art Fair Singapore 2018. Image: Rupert Harding Newman

This year’s program also offers a range of workshops, demos and talks on mindfulness, silkscreen printing and textiles. There is also the Children’s Art Studio, presented by Art Wonderland where children can make tactile pieces of art.   

Chatting to AAF Festival Director, Alan Koh, Affordable Art Fair 2018. Image (c) Creative Arts Social

We caught up with Festival Director, Alan Koh who said he was most excited about the shifts in the program and the fact they are welcoming back gallery partners that always participate as well as over 20 new gallery partners to the fair. Alan went on to say that AAF is committed to educating people about art through their program.  Apparently about 30% of the fairs attendees are first time collectors so he is also going to be hosting daily director’s choice tours across the weekend, visiting five galleries for five minutes each to showcase some of the breadth of art available.

AAF works with a simple concept for visitors with pricing between $100 to $15,000 and an easy to purchase policy where new and seasoned collectors can wrap and take artwork with them directly.  That ease means that AAF is going from strength to strength.The Affordable Art Fair has now been running with a winning model since it started in London in 1999. It now has an established program and following in 13 countries around the world and has been featured in Singapore since 2010. They hope that a lot of visitors in Singapore this weekend will buy their first pieces or that more seasoned collectors will return and find new artwork by their favourite galleries and artists.

This edition runs in Singapore between 16th and 18th November and the F1 Pit Building. For details of their programme of events and a sneak peak at some of the featured artists and galleries, click here.

Follow our social media coverage of the press tour on Instagram here.  If you’d like to read more of our artist interviews, look here and more of our blogposts here.

Creative Arts Social is a not for profit organization. We believe that art is for everyone. We all have the creative potential to understand, connect with and benefit from the arts. For more information about the work we do here.  

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