As a nine-year-old growing up in Bern, Switzerland, Lorenzo Rudolf once stood transfixed in front of a local museum, wowed by an artist’s work that wrapped the entire façade. The experience left an indelible impression, and he identifies it in setting him on the track he is on today. Despite having a very “classical education” (studying law and then going into public relations), he knew that art was his true passion.

“There came a point where I had a chance to combine my passion for art with my education – that was when I started as director of Art Basel,” says the 52-year old founder, co-owner and director of Art Stage Singapore. Rudolf was in the midst of putting the finishing touches on the second edition of Art Stage Singapore (happening January 12 to 15) when we caught up with him over the phone late last month, and he took some time out to talk about Art Stage Singapore, Asian contemporary art, and why art is so important to a modern society.
 

Asia Tatler: How would you evaluate the success of the first Art Stage Singapore?
Lorenzo Rudolf: We can be happy with the first edition, as there’s probably no other fair that started at zero and had such a remarkable result. I think we are absolutely right with our strategy; it’s right to do this fair in Asia, and in Singapore. I want to show the strengths of Asian creativity and how interesting Asian artists are. We are fixing all the details here at the moment, but everything is under control and I think we will be able to offer you quite a beautiful show.

AT: What do you feel are the strengths of Asian artists?
LR: I think Asian art, like any other contemporary art, is a global language. A great contemporary artist is an individual, and it’s less important if he’s Chinese, American, Singaporean, Indian or Swiss. Every individual has his roots, but a good artist is able to express himself in a language that somebody else in another part of the world is able to understand. We’re seeing more great artworks in Asia, and contemporary art is no longer a domain of the West.

AT: What is art to you? Do you believe that anything can be considered art?
LR: There is no official definition for what is art. Art is something that affects my heart, my brain, my soul, my eyes. Which makes me think, which makes me suffer, which makes me happy, whatever. It depends on what you are open to be confronted with. Art and the definition of art keeps becoming bigger. I would even say it’s going in the direction of creative innovation. Today, artists work with collaborators who are not only artists – they are scientists, writers, even philosophers. That for me is the most interesting thing. That means to open your mind and to be open to new things. That’s something important for any modern society, and that’s why we have to stand up for art and support it.

AT: You come into contact with all sorts of art. How do you decide what to select?
LR: I have experts and friends with whom I discuss it. There is a subjective component, but I always try, out of my humble point-of-view, to put together what I think people in Singapore and all over the world – not just buyers, but everybody – would appreciate and be impressed with. That is what drives me. I see an art fair not just as a platform for a market, but also as an instant museum for a certain time. Nowhere else can give such a concentrated overview of the creativity of an entire continent as you have at Art Stage Singapore.
 

AT: What do you think collectors are looking for nowadays?
LR: Top collectors in the West and in Asia, they all hunt the best pieces – that’s the same. What you have in Asia, more so than in the West, is to see art as an investment. Many people start to buy art because they want to invest, and the more they buy, the more they appreciate it. But if somebody asked me, ‘What shall I buy?’, I always say, buy something you like, then at least you’re buying an emotional value.

AT: Are you drawn to any particular style of art?
LR: It would be the same as asking me if I only like blonde ladies – no, I like them all. It’s not a style that attracts me; it’s the work itself. It’s the same with human beings; you’re either attracted by something or not. Sure there is the intellectual aspect and the aesthetics, but it also carries over into the emotional aspect. A good artwork is when all these senses are engaged

AT: What direction do you see the global art market moving towards?
LR: There are no longer just one or two art centres, but on the contrary, I see more centres growing. It’s really a globalised culture. But if I compare today’s Asia with America and Europe, there is one big difference – Europe and America are open scenes. People travel, and artists exchange dialogue amongst themselves. Asia is still not yet there, and is still quite fragmented. That’s one of the roles I see for Singapore: to become a hub, a bridge for all these art scenes. We have to open the eyes of the [Asian collectors] to what is going on in Asia and show them how they can support Asian art. I think that’s the way the art world is going – towards a globalised, open art world with a lot of different centres, different artists, and different styles. In this vision, you can see how important Singapore can become. How many places in Asia are like Singapore, centrally located with a high living standard, multi-cultural, and stable? All these things come together, and we are on the right track here.

AT: What do you hope people will take away from Art Stage Singapore 2012?
LR: Besides some artworks for their collection? I want people to have fun, to see what contemporary art is and what Asian contemporary art can be. I can only say, please come, have a look, let yourself be seduced or provoked, and if you like it, you can buy it. And I hope that in the future we create a place that’s an art spot on the global map, not just for a week but an entire year.
 

Art Stage Singapore 2012 launches on January 11, and will be open to the public from January 12 to 15, at Marina Bay Sands Convention and Exhibition Centre. Visit www.artstagesingapore.com for more information.

 

Photos: Art Stage Singapore