From the Known to the Now: Artcommune Gallery

May 20, 2022 | Neo Hui-Lyn

Step into artcommune gallery – situated appropriately in the art district of Bras Basah at the sparkling Carlton Hotel – and one will be reminded of an art museum more than any commercial gallery. Boasting some of the biggest names and most well-known canvases of the Singaporean art scene, old and new meld into each other with this collection of Singaporean classics. Watercolour and ink gibbons recognisable to every Singaporean (courtesy, of course, of the fifty-dollar note) frolic opposite ceiling-to-floor scrolls splashed with Chinese calligraphy. Here, the iconic Nanyang style of revered pioneer artists like Cheong Soo Pieng and Chen Wen Hsi collide with the the diverse, modern art style as displayed by Singapore masters: Lim Tze Peng, Ong Kim Seng, Tan Choh Tee, Tong Chin Sye, and Wong Keen, who continued their legacy and redefined the next era of Singaporean art. The one thing they have in common, however, is how uniquely and characteristically local they are.

From the Known to the Now: Artcommune Gallery
From the Known to the Now: Artcommune Gallery

Founder and director Ho Sou Ping has every reason to be proud of this glittering line-up. Observing how Singapore has long side-lined its art scene and empathetic with this neglect, he aims to rectify this historical lack by showcasing the famed classics of two generations of local art, proving to and reminding us that even this small STEM-inclined hub has its own impressive cultural niche. The art scene, of course, works both ways, and, through this platform, Ho intends to foster a greater appreciation for art in the country. Not only are such renowned names sure to attract the most astute collectors, but they are also bound to draw the general public in – many of whom would be familiar with these artists.

But it would be a mistake to think Ho is only concerned with the traditional or “brand name” artists. Since the establishment of artcommune gallery in 2009, Ho has since also founded AC43 Gallery in 2016. Contrastingly, it features new gems and emerging talents of the local art scene instead, demonstrating how Ho's drive to represent the creme-de-la-creme of Singaporean artists across time is truly insatiable. Such commitment, needless to say, is unsurprising for someone who has always had a passion for art, albeit suppressing it for a more stable career in the engineering sector. These galleries and the works they showcase, however, show that Ho's ambitions were worth the wait.

As much museum as it is market; as academic as it is commercial, and undeniably cultural, the gallery is definitely a one of a kind – a one-stop for art that is proudly and characteristically local. Perhaps best summed up by Ho himself, “artcommune gallery is dedicated to the sustainable growth of Singapore art through the nurturing and supporting of local artists. It is not just about hanging artworks and selling them. From operations to curation, from marketing to education, and from art consultancy to art collection, we strive to be a comprehensive platform that fosters our artists’ productions into cultural assets.” From the iconic hybrid of eastern and western techniques on Southeast Asian subject matter that first defined the Singaporean arts scene to the delicate, dappled watercolour of current leading artists whose works have achieved international acclaim, there is something in the gallery spaces for everyone.