Jetgala - FALL-WINTER 2022

86 L big names. Big names already know what they want and how they want it. In any case, their names are already well-known. My company prefers to build names. That gives me more satisfaction. It is most important to me that artists and I get along. It’s the same as finding a date onTinder. We can all swipe right, but we won’t know if we’re right for each other until we meet and spend some time together. Aside from the artwork, what draws me to an artist is their commitment, passion, and hunger to build their careers and practice, which takes time and a lot of handholding, reassurance, and anxiety. When it comes to anxiety attacks, one of the most important factors to consider when managing artists is mental wellness. Aside from being a business consultant and a career counsellor, I am their friend, offering them not only a listening ear, but also whatever they require to maintain a healthy mental state.This could also imply forcing them to take a break from work. I’ve had a few crisis management incidents in just two years. Is this a good time to launch an art gallery? It must be a good time to open galleries. There are a lot of new art galleries in Singapore and Hong Kong.There are so many artists with so many different styles that a gallery can easily create a niche portfolio.And the market is global. It is simple enough to start a gallery.The challenge lies in the sustainability of your business, which is determined by your business model, strategy, and operations. You’re closely associated with Utterly Art – how does it affectWasuka? I founded Utterly Art, though my focus is now onWasuka Art.The gallery is now run by a very capable and well-respected business partner. It is in very capable hands. Wasuka Art, on the other hand, is not a gallery. It is an artist management company that handles the business side of things for artists. Wasuka complements Utterly Art’s business.Wasuka also helps artists find suitable galleries.The work is similar to that of a matchmaker.As a result, I have the XY Contemporary Art Gallery in Beijing, as well as Nonage and Utterly Art in Singapore. Every gallery has a distinct identity that influences its portfolio. Even before Wasuka Art, I frequently advised artists to do their homework on the galleries they approach. I tell them to discover who they are constantly promoting and who they are attracting as buyers. Then, see if you fit that profile.When in doubt, DM me on Instagram @wasuka. art. You launchedWasuka with an exhibition at Nonage Gallery – is this going to be your long- term venue forWasuka moving forward? Nonage Gallery is a new art gallery. Wasuka pitched the ‘Off theWall’ exhibition to RoccoWu, owner of Nonage Gallery. He liked it so much that he made it the gallery’s inaugural show. I enjoyed working with Nonage, and I anticipate that the gallery and Wasuka’s artists will collaborate more in the future. Off theWall has an interesting component - a mural - rather than the usual art pieces hanging on the wall. How do you explain it? ‘Off theWall’ was actually a series of murals painted on walls with canvases juxtaposed on them.The idea was multifaceted.To begin, it was an idea to transition one ofWasuka’s artists, Murfin, a mural artist, into a gallery space. Second, it sparked a debate about the purpose of mural art and its place in street art and commercial art, though mural art can be labeled either way. It is on the street, and historically, murals were usually commissioned by the owner of a building.