As anybody who has tried to curate an artwork assortment for his or her dwelling will let you know, it takes an eye fixed to place the appropriate items in the appropriate locations. Cassi Younger has the attention, as evident by the work that have been on show on the Artwork Works Gallery in One Holland Village again in September. She had fastidiously curated the vivid artworks from budding artists Kate Florence and Sylvie Kettle for the gallery’s exhibition, titled The Spirit Of Life. Curating such exhibitions has been one in every of Younger’s many tasks since she turned the worldwide high quality artwork director of Artwork Works Group in Might this yr.
Younger has each the attention and the experience for the job. Earlier than becoming a member of Artwork Works Group, she was the previous director of Put up Struggle & Modern Artwork at Bonhams in London. She beforehand held roles in different esteemed public sale homes, together with Christie’s London.
At Artwork Works Group, a Singapore-based high quality artwork gallery and advisory that was established in 2011, Younger has her finger on the heartbeat of the Asian artwork market; she leads the corporate’s mission to complement, increase and diversify the collections of artwork collectors within the area. She is especially captivated with championing rising artists, and hopes to supply Artwork Works Group’s purchasers a style of up to date artwork that they could not have seen earlier than.
Forward, Younger tells us extra about her function at Artwork Works Group, her route for the corporate, and what she believes units high-quality artwork aside.
What drew you to a profession within the artwork world?
Cassi Younger (CY): I’ve at all times identified that I wished to work within the arts. In highschool, I used to be intrigued by something artistic. I used to be tremendous fascinated by classical historical past, however then I used to be pondering, how do you pivot that right into a profession apart from being a historian? One in all my favorite issues to do once I was rising up was to go to artwork galleries. Most famously, in Adelaide, there’s the Artwork Gallery of South Australia. It’s fairly an enormous establishment and I’d go there with my mother [when I was younger]. I cherished being misplaced within the artworks, immersed on this completely different world. I knew earlier than I completed highschool that I wished to have a profession within the arts, in all probability as an artwork seller or working at an public sale home.
Talking of public sale homes, you beforehand labored at Bonhams and Christie’s London. How do you assume these experiences contribute to your function at Artwork Works Group?
CY: One of many lovely issues about public sale homes is that you simply be taught a lot and you’re uncovered to a lot due to how worldwide these corporations are. They’ve so many various departments, not only for artwork however for jewelry, watches, automobiles and manuscripts. Coming from a significant public sale home like that, you achieve lots of data about how the posh market works. However personally, the interplay with such wonderful artworks was clearly the spotlight. These are the forms of works which were hidden away for possibly 50 years in a non-public assortment, come up for public sale as soon as, after which go to a different personal assortment. They is probably not seen once more for an additional 50 years. It was a privilege to deal with such artworks, to rise up near them and be taught concerning the apply of the artists. These experiences and the those who I encountered, from purchasers to colleagues, have been integral to my profession. I’m bringing all of that data to my new function in Artwork Works Group.
You’re the international high quality artwork director of Artwork Works Group. What does that function entail?
CY: It’s fairly an enormous function. I’m overseeing the creative curation of the corporate, and there are a number of pillars at Artwork Works Group. The gallery focuses on rising to mid-career artists. It’s an actual ardour venture of mine. One of many causes I joined Artwork Works Group was as a result of I wished to work carefully with artists for a very long time. For the gallery, my function is to decide on the artists we companion with, and form and curate what we current. The advisory, which is one other pillar of the corporate, is a really acquainted area for me as we advise purchasers on their artwork collections, reminiscent of which artists to purchase, what artwork works to promote, or the place to promote them, for instance.
What’s your imaginative and prescient for the Artwork Works Gallery?
CY: What I actually need to do is assist native creative expertise and to carry thrilling modern artists from everywhere in the world to Singapore, and showcase their works right here in order that collectors, each aspiring and established, can expertise one thing a little bit bit completely different. That’s actually our purpose.
What do you look out for when selecting artists to symbolize at Artwork Works Group?
CY: Expertise, firstly. You recognize, while you’re standing in entrance of an paintings, do you get pleasure from it? Does it carry one thing to your expertise? Are you moved by it? These are all of the issues that [I consider and] I search for. However it’s additionally vital to contemplate completely different artists for various areas. In Southeast Asia, sure artists and supplies work higher right here. For instance, if not sorted works on paper don’t fare as properly in Southeast Asia due to the humidity. So I are likely to search for canvases or sculptural works—items with a extra strong materials. Additionally, I have a look at the artist’s trajectory and their match throughout the gallery’s roster. Can we assist them in one of the simplest ways? That’s actually vital as properly.
What do you assume artwork collectors in Singapore are in search of?
CY: I believe that color may be very in style right here. And having good feng shui and a way of concord throughout the artworks is vital as properly. I believe that purchasers right here know what they like however are additionally open to embracing modern beliefs and worldwide artwork, and we need to carry that to them.
Is there a launch that you simply’re enthusiastic about?
CY: Our upcoming Notion exhibition is our subsequent present and a venture I’ve been passionately engaged on since I joined. It opens on 24 October and it options three UK-based artists: Araminta Blue, Max Boyla and Callum Harvey. It’s titled “Notion” as a result of every artist seems to be at actuality, their notion of area, and the way that’s perceived on the floor of the compositions. As artists they’re all fairly completely different, however there’s an underlying thread [in their art] about the best way that all of them have a look at actuality, whether or not it’s actual or imagined, and all three are very thrilling artists to look at. Araminta simply had her first solo museum present in Italy, which is an enormous second. Max has a solo present that not too long ago opened in Palma, Spain. And Callum has exhibited with a number of the most spectacular younger galleries in London. I’m thrilled to be bringing them out to Singapore.
Images: Jaya Khidir
Artwork Route: Marisa Xin
Styling: Kelly Hsu
Images Assistants: Aliy Alam And Nowo Kasturi
This story initially appeared on Grazia Singapore and within the October 2024 difficulty of GRAZIA Singapore.
For extra on the newest in chief interviews and reads, click on right here.
