Renowned for his model management agency Upfront Models Singapore, Watson Tan brings compellingly fresh art pieces from new aspiring artists from around the globe. Art Front Gallery was established in 2010 where hidden talents are polished, nurtured and left to shine for people to treasure the art they bring to life. A lover of beauty, collecting art started as a personal obsession where an appreciation of the artist’s history, techniques and narrative brought about his curation of unconventional masterpieces.
A fashion curator for 20 years, he understands artistry is beyond aesthetics. It is important to have continuity of visual admiration with personal emotions where his moods affect his interpretation of every piece in his gallery. Watson look at art and fashion based on times, what is current in the market and industry today. He is aware of the vital needs and demands of the international platform.
By Watson Tan: Most of my artwork have a personal touch, I showcase gallery pieces that I personally feel for. One artist that I am artistically connected is striving new Indonesian artist Iqi Qoror. His art portrays more of internal feelings of people and human beings, it is spoken very strongly in his artworks. For instance, his painting of two men looking at each other depicts crucial decisions in life, it offers determination to move forward even if you might slip and fall from the bananas on the floor. My belief is similar, that sometimes in life you have to make that decision even if you are uncertain if it’s the right one. Being an owner of an art gallery and a model management company, it’s very difficult to make pivotal decisions but this conviction guides me to the right path.
I don’t like to be dictated by a specific country to look at or be inspired by when selecting artwork. What is important to me is the deep personalised feeling the delineation of the creation affects me. It’s very hard to say that because it’s from China it has to be more colourful, from Indonesia it has to be dark. It is a personal task for me to deliver to my audience, like a show exhibiting a personal curation. Art Front reflects a place where art is never dictated by society. Be dictated by what you feel and that can be a success story.
Art is a variety of style, textures and medium for every country it represents. Watson Tan is able to define the collector’s preference like how he chooses fashion models to suitably represent a brand. Singapore collectors like subtle outlines, Indonesians strong and deep silhouettes, Koreans look into the play of texture and different mediums and Chinese deep but more colourful style. He truly is a dexterous creative mind where fashion and art have no boundaries.
