One For All : Affordable Art Fair 2017

The Autumn edition of the contemporary art fair remained true to its vision of affordable art for all

The recently concluded Affordable Art Fair (AAF) ran from 17 to 19 November 2017 at the F1 Pit Building, and saw more than 11, 000 fair-goers and sales of over $3.7 million. Filling up the halls were over 70 galleries, showcasing artworks from an estimated 500 international and local artists. Remaining true to its vision of offering affordable art to all, 75% of artworks were priced under S$7,500.

What was especially significant was the fair’s spotlight on new blood in the industry, namely The Young Talent Programme (YTP). Highlights included Bo Sung Yom’s erudite found-object works such as a parliament house constructed entirely from erasers, and Jamela Law's haute couture-inspired wearable art. Artists Faris Nakamura, Che Xinwei, and Bo Sung Yom were also announced as YTP winners who will participate in a 10-month mentorship programme under curator Seah Tzi-Yan, leading up to solo showcases at ION Art Gallery in 2018.

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AF’s Children’s Art Studio proved to be a hit as well, with avid participation in the activities hosted by Art Wonderland. Its ‘Explorers at Work’ workshop consisted of a learning tour around the fair and an art making session where mixed media artworks were created from tactile materials such as sequins, crepe paper and clay.

The fair also featured works in a large variety of styles, ranging from sculptures and pop art to paintings made from oil, acrylic on canvas and even beeswax. There were plenty of digital artworks, such as an LED video art display by Gallery Tableax’s Kim Soon Ki. Another crowd-drawer was artist Chloe Manasseh’s sound and video installation. Titled ‘100 sounds of Singapore’, the showcase featured musicians responding to the video through improvised sound.

Artworks which particularly stood out were that of Asian galleries, such as ones brought in by New Delhi-based gallery Studio Paradise. Featuring contemporary works by established, mid-career and emerging artists, their collection included beeswax paintings by French-Canadian artist Marie LeBlanc, and works depicting intricate market scenes and old cityscapes of Indian cities by artist Arpan Bhowmik.

With AAF being consolidated into an annual flagship event, the fair is set to return from 16th to 18th November next year, with new artists and fresh programming in the pipeline.