STATION IV: Singapore

The Haudenschild Collection is, for me, exemplary of good art collecting practices. It is not only impressive how the Haudenschilds have built up such a significant and focused collection in a short period of time, but the attitude they have adopted in their support of the artists whose work they collect is also exemplary. By exhibiting their collection in Singapore, it was also my intention to draw attention to the way the Haudenschilds go about their collecting activities and raise awareness of the role and responsibilities of collectors.

As the Institute of Contemporary Arts Singapore is committed to showcasing significant trends, as well as the best examples of contemporary art practice, Zooming into Focus was an ideal exhibition for us to organize at the gallery. Not only does it highlight a major trend among contemporary Chinese artists towards the use of video and photography, many of the artists in the exhibition are also internationally renowned, thereby providing audiences in Singapore a rare opportunity to see their works...This exhibition, a major exhibition of contemporary Chinese photography and video, was the first of its kind for Singapore.

This is an important exhibition for highlighting and raising the level of discourse of photography and video in Singapore. Photography and video are still, as yet, relatively new mediums in art practice here. It was therefore useful for artists and the public to see how widely used these media are and also the interesting and innovative ways in which Chinese artists are using them. 

-Eugene Tan, Director of the Institute of Contemporary Arts Singapore