BUY WHAT YOU LOVE: YOUR HANDBOOK TO COLLECTING ART
FOFA proudly presents Buy What You Love, Singapore’s first pocket-sized guide to collecting art. Whether you’re a budding enthusiasts or a seasoned collector, this essential handbook demystifies the art market with practical advice, expert insights, and confidence-building tios-empowering you to buy art with knowledge and passion.
Co-author and publisher Ning Chong shares, “Over the years, I’ve been approached by many friends and acquaintances on how to collect art. I, together with my team decided to put this book together. It represents a synthesis of everything we’ve learnt and developed over the years working in this industry, and while also helping my father to manage his art collection. This book was specifically written for the Singapore market, we approached local art collectors from diverse backgrounds and highlighted leading non-profit art institutions like STPI, DECK and Objectifs. We also wanted to address the concerns many people have about collecting paper works especially in our tropical climate.”
SPHERICAL MOMENTS
Onfinitive Project returned to Singapore with “Spherical Moments” following the successful debut of “Neo Japan: Pop Art Explored” in July 2023 at Artspace@Helutrans.
The exhibition showcased over 10 new works by Beijing-born artist Liu Bin and Chicago-born artist Jordan Kasey, marking their debut exhibition in Singapore.
Curated by Elvina Chan, she reflected, “The metaphor of a sphere served as a prism where real-life occurrences were transformed into imaginative otherworldly landscapes. Liu created a Pinocchio figure, while Jordan brought to life colourful round figures that were not ordinary ‘people.’ We hoped this exhibition would allow everyone to pause from their busy lives and get lost in this magical world.”
Organised by FOFA, the private preview on 25 June 2024 featured curator Elvina Chan and artist Liu Bin, along with a special performance by DJ BB. The exhibition ran from 26 June to 1 July 2024 at Artspace@Helutrans.
NAC ART THOUGHT LEADERSHIP FORUM 2024
FOFA was proud to co-organise the second edition of the Art Thought Leadership Forum with the National Arts Council during Singapore Art Week 2024.
Titled “Creative Regions, Creative Economies”, the forum featured a keynote address by Professor Andy Pratt, alongside panellists Reem Fadda, Tita Larasati, and Daehyung Lee, who shared insights and case studies on the intersection of culture and economic development. The event brought together over 160 senior policymakers, international thought leaders, patrons, collectors, and representatives from leading art institutions for an engaging exchange of ideas.
Mr. Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, delivered the welcome address that morning.
The panel discussion can be viewed here.
Art Programme for B Capital
FOFA was engaged by venture capital firm B Capital to curate a bespoke art programme for their Annual Asia Event during the Singapore Grand Prix F1 week in 2023.
For this collaboration, we:
• Commissioned a Singaporean digital artist to create a unique NFT inspired by B Capital’s corporate logo
• Partnered with AWST to develop an interactive NFT vending machine, allowing guests to mint an exclusive “event token.”
NEO JAPAN: POP ART EXPLORED
FOFA was delighted to collaborate with Ms Chloe Chiu, founder of Hong Kong-based Onfinitive Project, to organise and execute their inaugural exhibition at Artspace@Helutrans in Singapore in August 2023.
For this project, FOFA provided a comprehensive suite of services, including:
- – End-to-end exhibition planning & management
- – Targeted PR & media engagement
- – Curated opening event & VIP guest list
- – Strategic sales advisory & facilitation
- – Oversight of installation & de-installation
The opening event welcomed over 150 guests, including art collectors, museum professionals, gallerists, artists, and media.
TALK BY VALENTINE MORENO 17 JUNE 2023
FOFA was delighted to host Ms. Valentine Moreno, for an insightful session on best practices in art collection management.
What is Collection Management?
In this talk, Valentine Moreno, a seasoned exhibitions and collections manager, shared her extensive experience in the museum field to help collectors better organise, protect, and care for their artworks. She explored fundamental museum practices used worldwide, offering strategies, tools, and practical tips on how these principles can be adapted and scaled for personal art collections.
About the speaker: Valentine Moreno is a museum and arts professional with over 15 years of international experience, specializing in arts administration and logistics to ensure the proper care, management, and growth of art collections and projects. She has served as Exhibitions Manager at institutions such as the Art Gallery of Ontario (Toronto, Canada) and currently works as a Collection Manager for private collectors, providing expert guidance on collection stewardship and preservation.
NAC ART THOUGHT LEADERSHIP FORUM 2023
FOFA was proud to co-organise the inaugural Thought Leadership Forum with National Arts Council during Singapore Art Week 2023. Titled “Re(imagining) The Future”, the forum featured two dynamic international panels and brought together 120 senior policymakers, international art thought leaders, patrons, collectors, and representatives from leading art institutions.
Ms Low Yen Ling, Minister of State for Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Trade and Industry, delivered an insightful and enthusiastic speech, setting the stage for meaningful conversations on the future of Singapore’s art ecosystem.
The event fostered thought-provoking dialogue and cross-sector collaboration, with attendees actively exchanging ideas and forging new relationships between Singapore’s public agencies and global arts leaders.
FOFA & SOTHEBY'S COLLABORATION
In August 2022, FOFA and Sotheby’s co-hosted an exclusive luncheon and private pre-VIP viewing ahead of Sotheby’s first live auction in Singapore in 15 years. Held at the Regent Hotel Singapore, the event featured a curated tour led by Sotheby’s specialists, offering guests an in-depth look at the artworks before the highly anticipated auction.
PRIVATE EVENT BY CREDIT SUISSE & IPG HOWDEN
In August 2022, Credit Suisse and IPG Howden invited FOFA to present on art collecting to a select group of Mandarin-speaking clients. Seizing the opportunity to enrich the discussion, we invited Singaporean artist Wong Keen to join the panel, where he shared his philosophy on life and art. To further elevate the experience, FOFA curated a showcase of Wong Keen’s works, which captivated guests during the evening’s dinner event.
DBS FUTURE LEADERS PROGRAMME 2022
FOFA hosted DBS Bank’s Future Leaders Programme 2022 at The Culture Story gallery, providing an inspiring setting for meaningful discussions. FOFA’s Managing Director, Ning Chong, was invited to join the “Women of Purpose” panel, an exclusive women-only session where panellists shared insights on working with family, discovering purpose in their careers, and balancing professional and personal responsibilities.
INTRODUCTION TO NFTS
In March 2022, Bank of Singapore invited FOFA to present a lecture on NFTs to a select group of private bankers and clients. The session provided an introduction to NFT, covering collecting strategies, market risks, and emerging trends. The session also explored how businesses and brands are adopting NFTs, their social and economic utilities, and opportunities for engagement in the Metaverse through platforms like Sandbox and Decentraland.
FIRESIDE CHAT AND BOOK LAUNCH WITH PAK ZAIN
We were honoured to host renowned art collector Pak Zain for an intimate fireside chat at The Culture Story in January 2020. As one of Malaysia’s most respected collectors of modern and contemporary Malaysian art, Pak Zain has built The Azahari Collection, an esteemed private collection of over 1,000 works, widely regarded as one of Malaysia’s most significant.
Known for his discretion and low-profile approach, Pak Zain, alongside his daughter-in-law Haslinda, offered rare insights into the vision behind the Azahari Collection, the founding of Galeri Z in 2015, and their family’s dedication to documenting their collection through the publication of three books.
PRIVATE EVENT BY AXA AND GREAT EASTERN
In September 2019, we partnered with AXA and Great Eastern to host an exclusive event for their premier clients. Alongside sharing our personal journey as art collectors, we led discussions on collection management, art insurance, and legacy building, offering valuable insights into the stewardship and preservation of art collections.
