Art Ecology: The Spectra of Institutions and Programme
Presented by The Culture Story
18 January 2025
The Culture Story hosted an insightful panel discussion during Singapore Art Week 2025, featuring Liu Di, Evonne Yuan, Ning Chong, and Kwok Kian Chow. The panel explored the evolving role of institutions and programmes in shaping the art ecosystem.
Panellists:
Liu Di is an art historian and critic based in Hong Kong and Cambridge, England. She has researched and worked with contemporary artists, collectives, community-based projects and spaces from China and Southeast Asia.
Evonne Jiawei Yuan is a writer and curator from Shanghai. Her practice focuses on fostering inter-institutional collaboration, which contributes to the reconfiguration of various narrative trajectories related to contemporary Chinese art.
Ning Chong is the co-founder of Family Office for the Art (FOFA) and The Culture Story (TCS). Ning is a sought-after speaker on topics such as art collecting, market trends, and building legacies through art. She is a patron of the Singapore Art Museum, a board member at Objectifs, a committee member at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, and an advisor to SHAW Studios in Singapore.
Kwok Kian Chow is an art historian and curator. He was formerly senior curator of the National Museum Singapore, director of the Singapore Art Museum, and director and senior advisor of the National Gallery Singapore.
Artist talk with Lisa Roet
Presented by The Culture Story
22 April 2022
The Culture Story was delighted to host Australian artist and ecologist Lisa Roet as she shared insights into her practice and how her deep engagement with apes, primates, and the natural world transformed her into a passionate advocate for climate action and environmental sustainability.
We welcomed 30 guests, including art collectors, art enthusiasts, and representatives from the Victorian Government Trade and Investment – South East Asia.
Exploring the Zain Azahari Collection
Presented by The Culture Story
18 January 2020
Nearly 70 art collectors, gallerists, artists, and enthusiasts joined us for a conversation with Pak Zain, who shared his journey in art and approach to collecting.
One of Malaysia’s most respected collectors of modern and contemporary art, Pak Zain’s Azahari Collection holds over 1,000 works and is regarded as one of the country’s most significant private collections. Known for his low profile, Pak Zain and Haslinda offered rare insights into their collection, the vision behind Galeri Z (established in 2015), and their dedication to publishing three books to date.
The event marked the launch of Hati & Jiwa: Volume 3 (2019), a four-part publication featuring over 500 artworks by Malaysia’s old masters and 50 contemporary artists from the region. The volumes are thematically categorised—Landscape, Figurative, Abstract, and Other Regions—spanning works from the 1920s to the present.
Disrupting Art Market Models with S2 Gallery London
Presented by The Culture Story
21 November 2019
The Culture Story hosted a talk with Bianca Chu, then Deputy Director of Sotheby’s S2 Gallery, London, to discuss S2 Gallery’s distinctive approach to exhibition-making, opportunities in the London art scene amid Brexit, and insights on value buys and emerging international artists before they gain market traction. With over eight years of experience in the art industry, Bianca, alongside gallery director Darren Leak, oversaw the exhibition programme at S2, which operates independently of Sotheby’s auction business. The gallery spotlights overlooked artists, anticipating recognition through curated exhibitions and in-depth research.
Bianca, born in New York, holds an MA in History of Art and Chinese Studies from the University of Edinburgh. She is an ambassador for Tate Young Patrons and a patron of the UK Friends of the National Museum of Women in the Arts, based in Washington, DC.
Previous solo exhibitions at the S2 Gallery include the first UK solo show of Austrian artist Renate Bertlmann (currently representing Austria at the Venice Biennale); Kim Lim; Li Yuan-Chia; Yuko Nasaka; Ibrahim El-Salahi; Tess Jaray; Tsuyoshi Maekawa; Alfredo Volpi; Roger Hilton; and the first UK solo show of Huang Rui. Group shows include an exhibition re-staging the important but overlooked Signals gallery in London between 1964-66 which included work by Filipino artist David Medalla alongside key proponents of Kinetic and experimental art in Europe such as Takis, Carlos Cruz-Diez, Lygia Clark, and Helio Oiticicia.
Joys and Rewards of Art Collecting
Presented by The Culture Story
14 September 2019
In collaboration with AXA and Great Eastern, The Culture Story co-founder Chong Huai Seng shared his personal art collecting journey with a select group of premier clients. Guests had the opportunity to view Peng Yong’s paintings and installation, which remained on display throughout the event.
Beyond art, attendees also gained insights from specialists on art insurance and legacy building, followed by a whisky tasting to conclude the evening.
Practical Insights into Collecting Singapore Art
Presented by The Culture Story
12 January 2019
Over 80 guests attended “Practical Insights into Collecting Singapore Art” by veteran collector Teng Jee Hum, alongside the launch of his book, Godalisation—Singapore Painted.
Growing up in Singapore in the 1950s–60s, Teng was deeply influenced by Lee Kuan Yew, shaping his search for identity through art. Over 25 years, he and his wife, June, have built a significant collection of Singaporean works, spanning the 1950s to 2018. In his talk, Teng shared his framework for collecting and insights on identifying works with investment potential.
The book was available at FOST Gallery, The Culture Story, and SEA Focus during Singapore Art Week (SAW) 2019 and later at NLB, Kinokuniya, BooksActually, and Select Books.
Salon Saturday at The Culture Story
Presented by The Culture Story
October—November 2018
Salon Saturday was a four-part talk series hosted by The Culture Story, offering insights into art collecting, the global art market, and protecting collections. Each session featured industry experts and provided practical advice for both new and seasoned collectors.
Talks in the Series:
Think Like an Art Collector (6 October 2018)
The Culture Story co-founder Ning Chong shared insights from a decade in the art world, offering practical knowledge and market perspectives to guide aspiring collectors.
Step into The Global Art Market (3 November 2018)
Ning Chong broke down the key players in the art ecosystem, while guest speaker Alan Koh (Fair Director, Affordable Art Fair Singapore) discussed the role of art fairs and shared insider tips.
Collecting Southeast Asian Art (17 November 2018)
Guest speaker Audrey Yeo introduced S.E.A. Focus and highlighted key Southeast Asian artists to watch in 2019.
Making Money is Art (24 November 2018)
Experts Victor Chan and Edrick Tang from AXA Art Singapore shared their expertise on safeguarding private art collections and assets.
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- Talk 1: “Think Like An Art Collector”, 6 October 2018 From the perspective of a young art collector and someone who has a decade of experience in the art world, Ning Chong shared professional knowledge and market insights to set you on the right footing!
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- Talk 2: “Step into The Global Art Market”, 3 November 2018 Founder Ning Chong broke down the various players in this complex ecosystem while guest speaker Alan Koh, Fair Director of Affordable Art Fair (AAF) Singapore, focused on the role of art fairs and shared insider’s tips and tricks to approaching a fair
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- Talk 3: “Collecting South-east Asian Art”, 17 November 2018 We had guest speaker Audrey Yeo share about her plans for the upcoming inaugural S.E.A. Focus art fair and which Southeast Asian artists to look out for in January 2019.
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- Talk 4: “Making Money is Art”, 24 November 2018 We also featured specialists Victor Chan and Edrick Tang from AXA Art Singapore operations to share their years of expertise in protecting private art collections and assets.
Collecting Chinese Ink: History, Culture and Wealth
Presented by The Culture Story
23 September 2018
Over 70 guests attended The Culture Story’s panel discussion, “Collecting Chinese Ink: History, Culture, and Wealth”. Moderated by The Culture Story co-founder Chong Huai Seng, the panel featured K.P. Lee, Teo Han Wue, and Lee Chor Lin, offering insights into Chinese ink as a medium, its traditions, and its influence, particularly in Singapore.
Amid renewed institutional and gallery interest in ink art—such as Wu Guanzhong at National Gallery Singapore and Lim Tze Peng at artcommune—the discussion provided a timely reflection on the evolving discourse surrounding this historic medium.
Mr Lee introduced early ink masters across dynasties, while Mr Teo explored the influence of ink among Singapore’s pioneer artists. Ms Lee engaged the audience with archival images of 1940s–1950s Singapore artist groups, highlighting lesser-known ink practitioners beyond Chen Wen Hsi. Mr Chong concluded by sharing his journey as a collector and his efforts to support the medium through the China Art Foundation.
The Culture Story thanks the speakers and guests for their participation, continuing its mission to foster meaningful conversations on art collecting for both newcomers and seasoned collectors.
Panellists:
Chong Huai Seng
Mr Chong’s regular visits to China in the early 2000’s sparked an interest in Chinese art, especially Chinese contemporary ink. In 2003, Chong founded The China Art Foundation to promote Chinese contemporary ink artists. In 2004, he supported and helped organise a major ink exhibition titled “Xin Xie Yi” 《新写意》held at the National Art Museum of China in Beijing. The exhibition, which was curated by Mr Liu Xiaochun, Researcher at the Chinese Art Research Institute, showcased twenty-five artists and attracted over 50,000 visitors. The exhibition was considered to be a significant event in the Chinese art community.
K.P. Lee
Mr Lee has been a collector of Chinese paintings since 1984, and now manages 2 private funds which invest in Chinese paintings. He became interested in Chinese art while working in the financial sector in London in the early 1980’s, and specifically started looking at Chinese paintings in 1984 after he was transferred to Hong Kong for work.
Teo Han Wue
Mr Teo was a journalist for The Straits Times during the 1980s when he reviewed art exhibitions regularly and wrote about many artists both local and foreign. After journalism, Mr Teo joined the National Arts Council (1991-2002). He was appointed as Executive Director of Art Retreat (2004-2010), a private museum based in Singapore owned by an Indonesian collector. Teo is a well-established writer, contributed numerous essays to both local and international platforms. He has also served on various advisory committees of Singapore Art Museum, National Gallery Singapore, NUS Museum and NTU.
Lee Chor Lin
Ms Lee began her career in the museum world in 1985 at the National Museum of Singapore. As senior curator of the Asian Civilisations Museum (1993–2002), Lee was responsible for the both Southeast Asian and Chinese galleries, as well as the museum’s acquisition in both collections. She was Director of the National Museum (2003–2013) and later became the CEO of Arts House Limited (2013–2016). She currently works independently and selectively, researching and writing on pre-war Singapore Chinese artists, Indonesian Chinese diaspora in batik trade, and food writing as a cultural memoir in modern Chinese literature.
Trends in the Global Private Art Museum Landscape by Christoph Noe
Presented by The Culture Story
27 May 2018
Over 50 guests attended a talk with Christoph Noe, co-founder of Larry’s List, who shared insights on the rise of private museums, future trends, and opportunities for artists, collectors, and institutions. Attendees also received The Private Art Museum Report, Art Collectors Report, and The Private Art Pass.
About Christoph Noe
Formerly a management consultant specializing in strategy projects across Munich, Berlin, Shanghai, and Beijing, Christoph Noe transitioned into the Chinese contemporary art scene in 2005, founding THE MINISTRY OF ART. He focused on artists from the post-70s and 80s generations, curating international exhibitions and editing books such as Young Chinese Artists, Hong Kong Artists, and Buy What You Like. He also compiled the catalogue raisonné for Liu Ye, the first of its kind for a Chinese contemporary artist.
Noe advised brands like Rolls-Royce and Hugo Boss on their art engagements in Greater China, helping establish the HUGO BOSS ASIA ART AWARD in collaboration with the Rockbund Art Museum.
In 2013, he co-founded Larry’s List, a leading art market knowledge platform, and published the Art Collector Report (2015) and Private Museum Report (2016)—the most comprehensive studies on contemporary art collectors and private museums worldwide. He has lectured extensively on the Chinese contemporary art market, including at Angewandte University, Vienna.
What It Takes to be a Pop Artist: Conversation with Jahan Loh
Presented by The Culture Story
10 March 2018
Guests attended an artist talk with Jahan Loh, one of Singapore’s leading pop artists, held in conjunction with his solo exhibition Genesis: God’s Terrarium (13 Jan – 30 Mar 2018) at The Culture Story. shared insights into his experiences living and working in Taipei and Singapore, the evolution of his visual style, and the challenges of maintaining artistic integrity while working on high-profile commercial projects. He also discussed why, at their core, all successful artists are inherently commercial.
About Jahan Loh
Born in 1976, Jahan Loh is a Singapore artist who works primarily in the field of pop art. Not restricted to canvases and walls, Jahan’s art has been featured in toy, apparel and footwear collaborations with Adidas, Nike, VANS, Puma, Subcrew, Casio G-SHOCK and BearBricks. He turned down a career in law to pursue an arts education at LASALLE College of the Arts with a scholarship. In 2002, Loh migrated to Taiwan to pursue his dream to be an independent artist. In 2004 he started a company called Invasion Studios, and entered the world of hip-hop, vinyl toys and music animation, joining the international craze of collectible sneakers and toys, pop cultural icons and figurative forms.
Loh spent a decade in Taiwan before he returned to Singapore in 2011 with a new body of work titled “Cherry Poke, Reconstituted Philosophies” which was exhibited at the Jendela Visual Arts Space, Esplanade. Loh is well known for his Ma Ling luncheon meat series paintings, representing the interplay of cultural signifiers in Singaporean identities and everyday lives today. In the 1990’s and following decades, the influence of graffiti was embraced internationally as a countercultural movement that developed to become increasingly interwoven with lifestyle sub-cultures and market branding. Street art was a symbolic outlet for artistic and youth countercultural expression, a universal point of connection among youth internationally, and this remained vital as a locus for Loh’s inspiration and identity.
The Artist as Collector: Meet John Clang, Photographer Extraordinaire
Presented by The Culture Story
9 December 2017
Over 70 guests gathered for an intimate talk with New York-based Singaporean photographer John Clang. He offered a rare glimpse into his life and artistic journey, sharing why he collects. The highlight of the evening was an exclusive sneak peek of his debut feature film—a deeply personal passion project three years in the making.
A heartfelt thank you to JR Wine Asia for their generous support, featuring a curated selection of Pont des Arts’ finest wines from Bordeaux and Burgundy.
About John Clang
Born in 1973 in Singapore and based in New York at present, John Clang is a visual artist working in photography and film. John’s work take on a strong autobiographical undertone, and often feature themes of time, displacement and existence. His style is most identifiable for its blurring or erasing of faces and figures – his popular series “Erasure” (2011) and “Remembering Strangers” (2010) comprised of portraits in which the subject has been erased or cut away from the print. John has participated in more than 20 solo and group exhibitions internationally, and has assembled a high-profile commercial portfolio that includes collaboration with international brands like Hermés, Adidas and IBM. In 2010, John became the first photographer in Singapore to receive the President’s Designer of the Year award – the most prestigious design accolade in Singapore.
Hong Kong: The Next Art Mecca – An Insider’s View
Presented by The Culture Story
23 November 2017
The Culture Story was delighted to host a special evening with Magnus Renfrew, founder and managing director of ARTHQ. The event marked the Singapore launch of his latest book, Uncharted Territory: Culture and Commerce in Hong Kong’s Art World. Magnus shared insights from his book, his experiences as a cultural entrepreneur, and why he believes Hong Kong is poised to become a global art powerhouse.
Previously, Magnus served as the founding director of Art Basel in Hong Kong (2012–2014) and led ART HK (2007–2012), which played a pivotal role in positioning Hong Kong as Asia’s art market hub. Recognised as one of the 100 most influential figures in the art world, he has appeared in ART+AUCTION, ART REVIEW, and Le Journal des Arts’ Power 100 lists. In 2013, he was honored as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.
The event was supported by ROYAL OAK CELLAR, a specialist in fine and rare Bordeaux French Wines, with a small collection of Growers Champagne and Whiskeys.
Here is an exclusive footage from the event:
Economic Development Board Alumni Society Event
25 August 2017
The Culture Story hosted 30 guests from the Economic Development Board (EDB) Alumni Society for a private art talk. Founders Chong Huai Seng and Ning Chong shared their vision for The Culture Story, exploring the evolving role of art in society and how the landscape has changed in recent years.
Mr Chong also offered personal stories and anecdotes from his 30-year journey as an art collector, providing guests with unique insights into the world of collecting.
An Exclusive Dialogue with Artist-Scholar Dr Jolly Koh
Presented by The Culture Story
17 August 2017
The Culture Story hosted an exclusive event with Dr Jolly Koh, a leading Malaysian artist-scholar widely regarded as a seminal figure in modern Malaysian art. Known for his sharp intellect and outspoken nature, he is a fiery commentator on artistic discourse and the role of the artist in contemporary society.
In 1959, Koh pursued a National Diploma in Design at Hornsey College of Art and an Art Teacher’s Certificate in London. In 1975, he earned a Doctorate in Philosophy of Education from Indiana University on a Fulbright Scholarship.
Koh was part of the landmark GRUP exhibition in 1967, alongside Syed Ahmad Jamal, Latiff Mohidin, Ibrahim Hussein, Anthony Lau, Cheong Laitong, and Yeoh Jin Leng, often referred to as the “Magnificent Seven.”
Over the past 50 years, he has lived and worked in Malaysia, London, and Adelaide, balancing his artistic practice with a deep commitment to art education. His works are held in major private collections and institutions across Asia, including the National Visual Arts Gallery Malaysia and National Gallery Singapore.
Meet The Artist: Augsto “Gus” Albor
Presented by The Culture Story
22 July 2017
The Culture Story hosted 40 guests for an intimate session with Filipino artist Augsto “Gus” Albor, who shared insights into his artistic practice, influences, and journey. His path—shaped by an itinerant childhood, a stint as a commercial graphic artist, formal art education, and global encounters—has deeply informed his evolving practice.
Albor is an internationally renowned Filipino abstractionist and a recipient of the Thirteen Artists Award (1977) from the Cultural Centre of the Philippines, which recognise artists who take creative risks to redefine art-making and artistic thought. An accomplished painter and sculptor, he has exhibited in the Philippines, Austria, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, and the USA.
More recently, Albor was one of three participating artists in “Personal Structures—Crossing Borders” at the 56th Venice Biennale, a milestone that coincided with the Philippines Pavilion’s return to the Biennale after a 52-year hiatus.