Gallery Name: Art Plural
Name: Frédéric de Senarclens
Title: Founder and Director
Gallery Address: 38 Armenian Street, 179942 Singapore
Ian Davenport, Ian Davenport: Between the Lines, installation view, Art Plural Gallery, Singapore
Kendall Galant: What type of art does your gallery focus on?
Frédéric de Senarclens: Modern Art and Contemporary Art and Design
KG: How many artists do you represent? Can you tell us about one or two of them?
FS: The gallery represents around 20 artists. Our current exhibition at the gallery features French artist Fabienne Verdier (French, b.1962) who trained in China with masters in traditional ink painting for over 10 years. Verdier also has an upcoming solo exhibition at the Groeninge Museum in Belgium. Another artist the gallery represents is Chinese artist Qiu Jie (Chinese, b.1961), who is well known for his detailed pencil drawings, and currently lives in Geneva, Switzerland. A solo exhibition is scheduled for October this year at Art Plural Gallery.
KG: How do you select the artists you represent?
FS: The gallery represents established and emerging international artists. We do not follow trends, instead we choose artists based on the quality of their artistic language.
KG: Do you have any development plans for your gallery—i.e. new markets, expansions, new hires, etc.?
FS: For the moment, the gallery is planning an expansion through participation in major international art fairs.
Bernar Venet, installation view, Art Plural Gallery, Singapore
KG: What was your biggest sale in the past year?
FS: Thanks to artnet we have received many enquiries, and our biggest sale through the website was a painting by Manolo Valdés.
KG: Have you noticed a trend in the origin of your buyers?
FS: Most of our artnet clients come from America and Europe. The gallery is seeing an increase in the number of buyers from Asia as well.
KG: What is your next important show? Tell us why we should come.
FS: In March 2013, Art Plural Gallery is presenting Windows of Opportunity, a solo exhibition of Indian artist duo Thukral & Tagra (Indian). They will unveil a new series of paintings and wall reliefs specially created for the gallery, exploring socio-political issues on migration.
Thukral & Tagra, Escape Domnius Aeries 3, 2012, Art Plural Gallery, Singapore, Singapore
KG: Do you think attending art fairs is crucial to gaining exposure? If so, which ones?
FS: Yes, it contributes to meeting new clients, addressing new markets, and exposing ourselves to other galleries.
KG: Have you noticed any noteworthy changes in the gallery market?
FS: In the past five years, the art market in Singapore has changed. We have seen many newcomers. New galleries and art fairs have established themselves here, making Singapore a destination for art.
Art Plural Gallery view
KG: Has the Internet dramatically changed the dynamic of your business?
FS: In the last six to 12 months, the gallery has launched a comprehensive Internet strategy. We are active on most art-related platforms and social media. We now have followers from around the world on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and our blog. It allows us to reach a global audience.
KG: What do you use artnet for? How frequently do you use it?
FS: We use it to check auction results on a weekly basis and to keep ourselves informed on happenings in the art world. We also use it as a promotion platform for our artists and events.
KG: How often do you attend art events?
FS: As often as I can.
KG: If you could have dinner with any three artists, living or dead, who would you choose?
FS: Francis Bacon (Irish, 1909–1992), Jean-Michel Basquiat (American, 1960–1988), and Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881–1973).