In this ‘Champions’ issue, ART REPUBLIK finds out more about rebels with a cause, from supporters who champion fledgling artists to socially motivated endeavours facilitated by art.

‘Champions’ is the third thematic issue under managing editor Nadya Wang, exploring rebels with a cause, from supporters who champion fledgling artists to socially motivated endeavours facilitated by art.

The cover artwork for the ‘Champions’ issue is a detail view of a photograph by Lik Sriprasert of Thai artist Niti Wattuya’s ‘Dialogue between Black Head and Golden Head’ (1998). It represents the many champions we feature in this issue, who rally others in the artworld to their causes, and in the process, facilitate new conversations and open up further possibilities for positive change.

There have been a number of exciting developments in the Southeast Asian art scene in the past year, with more to come before 2017 ends, and this issue of ART REPUBLIK presents all the highlights. Chiang Mai is becoming the new art destination in the region, anchored by the year-old MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum. In November, another private museum, the highly anticipated Museum MACAN, will open in Jakarta. Staying on the subject of pioneering art institutions, a landmark exhibition championing LGBTQ rights, co-hosted by Sunpride Founation, will be held at Museum of Contemporary Art, Taipei, and include soul-baring works by artists from the region.

We take a closer look at Bulgari’s ‘SerpentiForm: Snake Through Art, Jewellery and Design’ exhibition featuring 56 Bulgari creations featuring the serpent motif, alongside 15 antiquities from East and West, 74 artworks and 21 dresses, the ‘Myanmar New Wave: Pop Art Revisited’ exhibition at Intersections Gallery featuring urban artists Thu Myat and Wunna Aung, and a new body of work by Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan at STPI – Creative Workshop and Gallery, as well as Opera Gallery’s extensive Manolo Valdès exhibition at the gallery space and along Orchard Road in Singapore.

Rachel Ng writes about the relationship between social media and the artworld, and in the third edition of ‘New Voices’, we present a review by Christina Veras of ‘Human+: The Future of our Species’ at the ArtScience Museum and Chun Kai Qun’s solo exhibition ‘Messes and Overcooked Soups’ at Grey Projects, written as part of ‘Art Reviews – The Expanded Field of Critical Art Writing’, organised by NTU Centre for Contemporary Art Singapore (NTU CCA Singapore).

And in a special ‘Champions’ spread, we feature the work of gallerist Richard Koh, Myanm/art’s Nathalie Johnston, and Epic Arts’ empowerment of individuals from all walks of life through the arts in Cambodia, among other inspiring stories.

“For this issue, we find out what makes champions in the artworld do what they do, how they push through the inevitable challenges they face and what more there is to be done,” says Nadya Wang, Managing Editor of ART REPUBLIK. “These trailblazing advocates, defenders, guardians and patrons have big dreams while their feet remain firmly planted on the ground, and work tirelessly to effect the change they wish to see in their respective art communities.”

Mr. Olivier Burlot, CEO & Publisher at Heart Media, comments: “The ‘Champions’ issue is ART REPUBLIK’s celebration of the movers and shakers in the art world who fight the good fight in the region and beyond.”

ART REPUBLIK 16 will be presented at Art Taipei and Singapore Rendezvous in October, and Affordable Art Fair Singapore in November.

Visit ART REPUBLIK’s digital page, http://www.luxuo.com/artrepublik, for more art news. The tablet edition of ART REPUBLIK is also available for subscription on all Google Play and Apple Newsstands via Magzter, which is supported on all Android and Apple smart devices.

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