now

Hanging behind Ken is

a piece that appears to
be a car seat upholstered
in leather. It is, in fact,
a painting-sculpture by
Kaz Oshiro. Ken likes
the machoism and
attitude of the 1950s
that it symbolises.

When hes not working his day job as a creative

director at design firm The Establishment Group
and a partner at lifestyle store Supplies & Co, Ken
Tan is indulging in collecting art. Over the past
eight years, the 38-year-old has amassed a healthy
collection that appeals to his love for subcultures.
We step into his home and his world of art.
What a gorgeous home! Did you design it with your
art collection in mind?
Knowing where the art will go is easy. You just have
to give the works plenty of wall space for them to
breathe. For the rest of the home, I preferred it
to have no design. Its not minimalistic, because
that in itself is a movement. I just went with whats
practical: white walls and cement floors.

art

K E N TA N
Collects art that
has emerged from
subcultures

Which of these works was your first serious buy?

When I did a website for (English electronic
musician) James Lavelle about eight years ago, I
asked for an artwork by (American graffiti artist)
Futura instead of monetary payment. Futura
is behind the famous Pointman figure that has
appeared on many James Lavelle albums, which
I used to listen to growing up. I didnt realise how
valuable the artwork was until someone offered me
US$30,000 (S$37,500) for it!
Do you look for pieces that will be of value in
the future?
I feel that affordable art works that are typically
below $10,000 cannot appreciate in value. That
is why my wife and I always consider pieces that
are priced from $10,000, and we try not to follow
trends. We buy really slowly, maybe a piece a year.
But first and foremost, the art needs to make me
happy when I look at it.
Besides the price, what other factors would you
consider before buying an artwork?
You have to see where the artist is heading
the kinds of galleries he works with, and the
institutes hes associated with. This way, you can be
certain that there are people interested in his work.
Which galleries do you frequent?
I often go straight to Etsuko Nakajima, the gallery
director of Galerie Perrotin. But you have to
develop a relationship and prove that youre a
serious buyer. This is because the art world is now
filled with people who just buy and sell.

34

Do you have a favourite piece that you wont sell?

A painting that resembles a car seat, by Japanese
artist Kaz Oshiro, whom Etsuko recommended.
He creates sculptures of ordinary things, such
as speakers and microwave ovens, with canvas
stretchers. Some say his art is gimmicky,
but he references great artists like Frank Stella
of the minimalist movement and sculptor
Claes Oldenburg.
Which artists are you keeping an eye on now?
Im going back to the comic-book style, so
perhaps a piece by Gary Panter. He was part
of the Los Angeles subculture movement in the
1970s and 1980s.

text Mavis Ang photography Tan Wei Te art direction YEW XIN YI

top left

A photograph by
American artist Tim
Barber hangs in the
living room, above a sofa
set from Supplies & Co.
above left

Jose Parla is of the hiphop graffiti movement,

and his works are
inspired by urban decay,
explains Ken. Im
attracted to this piece
because it doesnt
look like anything and
its so unique.

top right

This piece by American

graffiti artist Futura,
who emerged from the
same 1980s period as
artists Keith Haring and
Jean-Michel Basquiat, is
the first serious piece in
Kens art collection.
above right

Ken also collects rare

war rugs that have
motifs of AK-47 guns,
tanks and missiles.

35