Art Auction

Uncovering hidden gems: The art exhibition for everyone to visit during Singapore Art Week

January 12, 20254 Mins Read


One of the first Indonesian artists to study European painting techniques in the 19th century, Raden Saleh trained in the Netherlands and mastered Romanticism, a style characterised by dramatic compositions and emotional intensity.

Often, he subtly infused his works with elements of his Indonesian heritage, which made them uniquely captivating to his European audience.

Singaporeans and art aficionados will soon have an opportunity to appreciate his mastery as his Javanese Landscape: View of Merbabu and Merapi painting will headline the Modern & Contemporary Art auction by Sotheby’s.

The auction preview, which is open to the public, will take place from Jan 14 to 18, 2025, at 5 Jiak Kim Street, with the auction held on Jan 18 at the same venue.

Modern & Contemporary Art auction by Sotheby’s

A key highlight of the Singapore Art Week, Sotheby’s Modern & Contemporary Art auction underscores the country’s burgeoning status as a vital hub in the global art market. PHOTO: SOTHEBY’S

The event, which is into its fourth edition, invites art lovers and collectors alike to engage with an impressive array of artworks.

This accessibility reflects the international auction house’s goal of democratising art appreciation and creating a vibrant community around contemporary artistic expression.

The auction also coincides with leading international art fair Art SG and is a key highlight of Singapore Art Week, which runs from Jan 17 to 26, 2025.

Sotheby’s Modern & Contemporary Art auction preview

Sotheby’s Modern & Contemporary Art auction has different art types, which will resonate with everyone, from neophytes to collectors. PHOTO: SOTHEBY’S

Ms Jasmine Prasetio, managing director of Sotheby’s South-east Asia, calls the Singapore Art Week an event where “collectors and the art community congregate to celebrate the wonder and excitement that art brings”.

She says: “The collection we have carefully curated includes a sculpture by [Singapore-born British artist] Kim Lim, whose ongoing exhibition at the National Gallery Singapore has garnered critical acclaim.”

In addition to Saleh’s masterpiece, the auction also features works by globally famous artists such as Marc Chagall, Mark Bradford, Christine Ay Tjoe and Takashi Murakami alongside South-east Asian masters including Cheong Soo Pieng, S. Sudjojono and Chen Wen Hsi.

Also debuting in Singapore are American visual artist Mark Bradford, whose works delve into themes of race, class and gender; as well as Brazilian contemporary painter Lucas Arruda known for his evocative landscapes and seascapes that blur reality and imagination.

Landscape paintings: More than just depictions of nature?

The curatorial theme for this year’s auction is “Landscapes: As Far as the Heart Can See”, which dives into how landscape paintings capture socio-cultural significance across various contexts.

Exhibition and auction attendees can consider landscapes not merely as representations of nature, but also as reflections of an artist’s inner world and understanding of life itself.

Ms Prasetio explains that the theme “explores the subject of landscape through different lenses across cultures, time, geography, history, and stylistic movements”.

“While the theme endures, the emotion and meaning it evokes become hallmarks of our culture and era,” she adds.

The selected artworks embody this exploration, illustrating how landscape painting serves dual purposes: It captures objective reality while also expressing personal interpretations.

From Saleh’s richly detailed Javanese landscapes shaped by his cultural heritage to French master Chagall’s celebratory scenes infused with emotional resonance, each piece offers insights into the diverse ways artists engage with their environments.

The artworks selected for the auction showcase current artistic trends while catering to an increasingly sophisticated collector base in South-east Asia.

As interest in regional artists grows, Sotheby’s aims to highlight these talents alongside established international names, creating dynamic dialogues that resonate across cultures.

In the process, it aims to cultivate deeper connections with art enthusiasts and collectors, positioning Singapore as a central player in the international art arena.

Sotheby’s modern and contemporary art auction preview runs from Jan 14 to 18, 2025 at 5 Jiak Kim Street, Singapore 169425. Register to take part and bid in the auction or call 6732-8239 for assistance. 

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