Cover Pinaree Sanpitak, Nick Jonas and Can Yavuz at the VIP preview and vernissage of Art SG 2026
Pinaree Sanpitak, Nick Jonas and Can Yavuz at the VIP preview and vernissage of Art SG 2026
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The VIP preview and vernissage of Art SG drew collectors, curators and cultural insiders, marking a vibrant opening to the fair’s fourth edition
On the afternoon of January 22, the Sands Expo and Convention Centre at Marina Bay Sands filled quickly as Art SG 2026 opened its doors to collectors, curators and cultural insiders—including friends of Tatler—for its VIP preview and vernissage. Now in its fourth edition, the fair presented by founding and lead partner UBS has settled into a confident stride, defined by pace, presence and layered discovery.
Early attention gravitated towards the main Galleries sector, where blue-chip names and leading regional galleries set the tone with assured presentations. Large-scale paintings and sculptural works drew steady crowds, while conversations clustered around booths foregrounding Southeast Asian practices—an indication of how firmly the region’s artists now sit within international collecting conversations.
Read more: Art SG 2026: Magnus Renfrew on how Southeast Asia is reframing the global art conversation
Above Lito Camacho, Kim Camacho, Stephanie Tay, Bea Camacho
Lito Camacho, Kim Camacho, Stephanie Tay, Bea Camacho
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The Platform sector of large-scale works proved one of the day’s most compelling anchors. Lee Bae’s monumental charcoal works commanded both space and silence. Nearby, Bingyi’s expansive paintings—rooted in nature and cosmic systems—offered a sense of scale that felt both immersive and contemplative. Anne Samat’s monumental textile work, It Feels Like Home … The Journey Continues (Wide Awake and Unafraid Series), introduced a tactile counterpoint, of materiality and movement. A quieter but equally magnetic presence came from Citra Sasmita’s Timur Merah Project X: Bedtime Story, which transformed part of the fair into a sanctuary of rest and mythic symbolism. Tatler guests also enjoyed a private guided tour of the fair’s highlight with insights into the works on display.
Above Malaysian artist Anne Samat stands before her monumental textile work, “It Feels Like Home … The Journey Continues (Wide Awake and Unafraid Series)”, presented by Marc Straus Gallery
Malaysian artist Anne Samat stands before her monumental textile work, “It Feels Like Home … The Journey Continues (Wide Awake and Unafraid Series)”, presented by Marc Straus Gallery
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Above Lydea Tan, Karen Ong-Tan, Layla Pi
Lydea Tan, Karen Ong-Tan, Layla Pi
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Above Wendy Long
Wendy Long
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Performance, newly introduced as a dedicated sector, subtly altered the vernissage’s tempo. Sydney-based Samoan artist Brian Fuata’s live, site-responsive work Instruction & Entertainment (minor gestures), developed in collaboration with Daniel Jenatsch, unfolded without announcement. Singaporean artist John Clang’s participatory performance Nine Chairs drew repeat engagement, as visitors returned to see how collective input reshaped the work over time. Meanwhile, Indonesian artist Melati Suryodarmo performed a three-hour presentation of her work, I Love You, at the UBS Art Studio.
Above Sydney-based Samoan artist Brian Fuata’s live, site-responsive work “Instruction & Entertainment (minor gestures)”
Sydney-based Samoan artist Brian Fuata’s live, site-responsive work “Instruction & Entertainment (minor gestures)”
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Partner presentations added texture to the evening. Ruinart’s Conversations with Nature series, featuring works by Sam Falls, offered a reflective counterpoint, with organic materials and botanical processes prompting slower, more contemplative encounters. Swiss jeweller Jahan Genève, meanwhile, attracted collectors with its presentation of rare high jewellery.
In case you missed it: Art SG 2026: X Zhu-Nowell on reframing the art fair through performance, time and presence
Stephanie Tay, Tina Tan Leo, Marilyn Lum
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As Art SG co-founder Magnus Renfrew observed, the fair reflects a broader shift: “Singapore’s position as a dynamic hub for Southeast Asia’s art market has never been clearer. Art SG 2026 builds on the momentum of previous editions, championing the region’s artistic practices while fostering meaningful dialogue with the global art community."
By the time the vernissage drew to a close, it was clear that the fair was more than just first impressions than sustained engagement. The evening unfolded as a series of returns—back to certain works, conversations and ideas—suggesting a fair increasingly confident in asking its audience not just to look, but to stay.
Credits
Photography: Adrian Lee, Terrix Lin
Topics
As Senior Editor of Tatler Singapore, Hashirin champions and refines the storytelling across platforms—curating and crafting compelling profiles, cover stories and features that spotlight visionaries shaping culture, business and impact. Driven by curiosity, she draws inspiration from the artists, changemakers and trailblazers she encounters through her work. Beyond the pages of Tatler, she is an avid supporter of local theatre and delights in seeking out art in every city she visits.
