YEO HOE KOON
Yeo Hoe Koon paints in traditional Chinese ink. His works depicting landscapes are found in the collection of the United Overseas Bank.
ARTSingapore 2002 leads the way to be the hub for
contemporary Asian art.
Amidst the current economic downturn, the art industry in Singapore is still
growing. A conservative estimation by the Art Galleries Association (Singapore)
(AGA) puts the worth of the art industry at around $10 million. In just 5 days
of ARTSingapore last year, it generated sales of $1 million. This year, the
organizers hope to increase it to $1.5 million.
As the only contemporary Asian art fair in the world, ARTSingapore 2002
announces that all the booths at the art fair are completely taken up by art
galleries from New York, Australia, Japan, Myanmar, China, Philippines, Taiwan,
Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and India, - 32 in total. Nowhere can
you see exclusively Asian works from 11 countries under one roof. Many of the
diversified art works are also on the museum’s wish list and contain the kind of
hallmark works collectors will buy now and sell later in auctions. See the all
time favorites, lust for the blockbusters, check out the new comers and bet who
will be the dark horse.
Amongst the many returning galleries, the newcomers are coming in force this
year to take advantage of ARTSingapore in its 3rd year. Top Asian artists such
as Latiff Mohidin, Ang Kiu Kok and Toko Shinoda will be shown amongst many
emerging talents this year. Expectedly, Singaporean hot favorites such as Chua
Ek Kay, Yeo Hoe Koon, Tan Swie Hian, Choy Weng Yang and Tan Teo Kwang are on the
list. All artworks are chosen under the strictest vetting conditions. The
vetting committee was impressed by the ‘strong and exciting’ presentation to
look forward to in October. The committee consists of Kwok Kian Chow, Director,
Singapore Art Museum, Dr. Ho Kah Leong, Principal, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts,
Tan Boon Hui, Assistant Director, International Relations, National Arts Council
and Seah Tzi-Yan, partner, Art-2 Gallery and AGA founding member.
“Everyone who takes part in this world-class fair wins new business while having
a good time. As the fair is organised by art dealers for art dealers you can be
sure of very well selected art works.” Said Marjorie Chu, Fair Organizer. She
added that since the who’s who of the art world is coming to this fair, it is a
great place to see how the stylish art dealers work with the elusive art
collectors.
Tan Tong's account of his days in Paris
On my arrival in Paris I was put in a 2-star hotel in the Montparnasse. Later when my scholarship ended I moved into a smaller hotel in Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau situated between the Halles and the Louvre Museum. A teeming commercial and market centre, it was always noisy and crowded day and night. The hotel was old and small. I had only a bed, a writing table and a small cold basin. Through the years I was hard put to keep myself going. Many of my fellow-students like Yeo Hoe Koon, Tew Nai Tong, Long Thien Shih, Loo Foh San and Li Chung Chuan had to be creative to make ends meet by hard work, endurance and courage. We finally managed to arrive at something although I almost gave up the struggle. I was tired of everythingñ life, art, acquaintances, even friends except for those who had the same interests and were good company. With these friends I enjoyed good talks, music, wet cold evenings, intimacy, red wines, street worship, shop-gazing, alley sopping, Seineloafing, exploring the least-known arrondissement and visiting museums and galleries.
Source: Tan Tong
