In this ‘Collecting’ issue, ART REPUBLIK considers the act of collecting from personal to institutional levels, including archiving challenges and possibilities in the digital age. The issue will be out 15 December 2017.

‘Collecting’ is ART REPUBLIK’s fourth thematic issue under Managing Editor Nadya Wang. It considers the act of collecting from personal to institutional levels, including archiving challenges and possibilities in the digital age.

ART REPUBLIK 2017 covers the ins and outs of collecting performance art, new media and digital art, and includes interviews with Gregory Gilligan at Thai Art Archives and Claire Hsu at Asia Art Archive about the challenges of the important work they do. In other stories, we uncover the personal nature of collecting art in the region through the journeys of Singapore-based curator and art historian Iola Lenzi, and Cambodian dancer and choreographer Sophiline Cheam Shapiro, among others. And in an extensive feature, Generation Y artists from Southeast Asia working in unusual mediums reveal the things they collect to make their artworks.

The cover artwork for the ‘Collecting’ issue is Ruben Pang’s ‘As I Drown, the Water Laughs’ (2017), a new painting from the highly regarded Singapore artist, in line with the issue’s focus on the art scene in the country, with Singapore Art Week occurring in January, anchored by Art Stage Singapore. We preview this year’s edition of the annual event and its focus on Thailand, and take a look at the artworks that galleries such as Ashok Jain Gallery, Mark Hachem Gallery, Opera Gallery and Richard Koh Fine Art are bringing to the fair.

There are several institutional shows worth checking out in Singapore at the same time, including ‘Cinerama: Art and the Moving Image in Southeast Asia’ at the Singapore Art Museum, ‘The Oceanic’ at NTU Centre for Contemporary Art Singapore and ‘In Praise of Shadows’ at ADM Gallery, which we preview in the issue.

Aside from spotlighting the Singapore art scene, the issue brings news in particular from Indonesia, where readers can take look at scenes from Biennale Jogja XIV and JIWA: Jakarta Biennale 2017, as well as inside Museum MACAN in Jakarta, which is now officially opened to the public. We also go over to Taipei to find out how Art Taipei went, and visit Asia Art Centre for its exhibition ‘Cheong Soo Pieng: A Centenary Celebration’.

And in our Page Turners section, we talk to Nguan about his book ‘Singapore’, which presents a collection of his distinctive images from home, as well as to Wulan Dirgantoro about her groundbreaking book looking at women artists in Indonesia, titled ‘Feminisms and Contemporary Art in Indonesia: Defining Experiences’.

While our eyes are trained on what’s current, we also reconsider the place of pioneer Singapore artist Cheong Soo Pieng in art history through our art market column, and preview an exhibition at STPI Gallery that will reintroduce the poetic works of the late Singaporean-British sculptor and printmaker Kim Lim.

“For this issue, we sought to unpack the act of collecting beyond collectors to include institutions and artists,” says Nadya Wang, Managing Editor of ART REPUBLIK. “We are positive you will enjoy our investigation about the pervasiveness and importance of collecting within the regional art community.”

Mr. Olivier Burlot, CEO & Publisher at Heart Media, comments: “The ‘Collecting’ issue marks ART REPUBLIK’s final quarterly issue in 2017, which has seen thematic studies of art in Southeast Asia and beyond, including ‘Crossover’, ‘Connections’ and ‘Champions’. The team has more exciting themes lined up for 2018! Do stay tuned.”

ART REPUBLIK 17 will be presented at Art Stage Singapore as its official media partner.
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.

Follow ART REPUBLIK on Instagram @art_republik, where a new social campaign has been launched, anchored by themed posts thrice weekly: #MustSeeMondays (new art exhibitions and events to check out), #WayBackWhenesdays (noteworthy art historical facts) and #FeatureFridays (people to watch in the artworld).