UBS Group AG

11/14/2023 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/14/2023 07:31

UBS brings back ART SG for a second edition, spearheading Singapore and Southeast Asia’s art calendar

Singapore, 14 November 2023 - UBS presents the second edition of ART SG, bringing together collectors, artists, galleries, institutions, and curators from Singapore, Southeast Asia and around the world in a week-long celebration of contemporary art. The Fair will present an exceptional line-up of over 100 leading international and regional galleries alongside a thoughtfully curated program of insightful conversations, dynamic, large-scale installations, film presentations, and expansive city-wide activations in close collaboration with Singapore's visual arts museums, private foundations, and gallery districts, kicking off Southeast Asia's annual art calendar with an invigorating start.

Jin Yee Young, Co-Head UBS Global Wealth Management Asia Pacific and Country Head UBS Singapore said: ""UBS is proud to bring back ART SG for a second year, kicking off APAC's art calendar. Singapore serves as an important gateway to the vibrant APAC art scene with robust interest amongst art collectors. In our latest global survey of HNW collectors, 91% of Singapore art collectors surveyed were planning to continue attending art-related exhibitions in 2024. A vast majority of collectors (71%) from Singapore are optimistic about the global art market over the next 6 months. Singapore has one of the highest representations of female artists' works in the collections of HNW collectors among all of the regions surveyed worldwide. UBS believes contemporary art has the power to inspire people to reimagine a better future. The partnership between UBS and ART SG creates an impactful platform for people to connect through art, share ideas, and bring opportunities to life."

Considered one of the most important corporate collections of contemporary art in the world, the UBS Art Collection consists of over 30,000 works, most of which are displayed throughout UBS's offices globally, including Singapore. With a mission to collect the art of our time and spark conversations about today's pressing issues, the UBS Art Collection will present artworks by leading Indonesian artist Eko Nugroho at the fair, highlighting a nuanced exploration of sustainability, through environmental awareness and traditional craft practices that engage the community.

Mary Rozell, Global Head of the UBS Art Collection, said: "The UBS Art Collection strives to highlight artists of our time who can speak to our deepest concerns, and the environment is at the forefront of this mission. Artists like Eko provide us with a means to unite around a shared cause and vision. We are proud to further the dialogue at ART SG, which serves as a fantastic platform to spotlight relevant issues, and foster a space where we can collaboratively envision a brighter future."

The UBS Art Collection commissioned Eko Nugroho to create the interactive project We Are Here Now for the UBS Art Studio, a dedicated public activation space on level 1 of the fair. This installation addresses uncontrollable waste production while calling for action. Visitors are invited to step into the two mask-shaped sculptures, have their Polaroid photos taken and subsequently attached onto the third sculpture. The installation requires participation to be complete, serving as a reminder that society as a whole can partake in environmental protection.

In the UBS Lounge, the UBS Art Collection presents Hands with Sunrise also by Eko Nugroho. Focusing on themes of community and environmental consciousness, this presentation consists of a commissioned installation, embroidered paintings and other artworks made with upcycled materials. The artworks were created collectively by Nugroho and the local communities in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, groups the artist has been collaborating with since 2007. As part of the display, the commissioned installation Guarding Sunrise in Mind (2023) attempts to bring a new spirit of optimism in welcoming the future.

The UBS Art Collection features an array of artists from around the world who, in line with Eko Nugroho, engage with environmental themes in their work. These include Julian Charrière, Liz Larner, Hugo McCloud, Richard Mosse, Pamela Rosenkranz, Tomás Saraceno, and Yin Xiuzhen. Their works have recently been commemorated in the UBS Art Collection's latest publication, Reimagining: New Perspectives.

UBS has a long history of supporting contemporary art and maintains strong ties with Asia through recent commissions by Singaporean artists Hilmi Johandi and Dawn Ng, and Hong Kong artists Tsang Kin-Wah and Stephen Wong Chun Hei. This commitment extends globally, with commissioned artworks by Jeffrey Gibson and Sarah Morris in the US and John Armleder and Ugo Rondinone in Switzerland. At 9 Penang Road, the office proudly displays artwork by artists from Asia including Christine Ay Tjoe, Lee Bul, Jane Lee, Rirkrit Tiravanija, Danh Vo and Robert Zhao Renhui.

In addition to ART SG, UBS has partnerships with other leading art fairs in Asia such as Art Basel Hong Kong, Taipei Dangdai and West Bund Art & Design. UBS is also a lead partner for Art Basel in Basel and Art Basel Miami Beach.