Borobudur is collaborating closely with Valentine Willie Fine Art, a leading gallery with an extensive knowledge and experience of the region, to bring the best of Southeast Asian contemporary art to auction. The “Southeast Asian Contemporary ” sale will feature the work of artists from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Contemporary art in Southeast Asia, like the region itself, is characterised by diversity and change. History, attitudes to culture and tradition, ideas about national identity, and sheer demographics have shaped the practice and appreciation of art in our respective countries in different ways. However, as a group of relatively young nations with deep cultural roots, we also share much in common: this region has long been a trading ground, a melting pot of peoples and cultures, profiting from the exchange of ideas and technologies while simultaneously negotiating complex polarities and shifts between old and new, progress and changing values. For artists living in a world in transition, this state of flux provides a constant source of inspiration and challenge, creating space for new freedoms and ideas, allowing them to redefine the aesthetics of Southeast Asia in compelling and powerful ways.

Borobudur and VWFA are excited about creating this new platform to highlight the leading names and prevalent trends in contemporary Southeast Asian art. There is plenty of room to grow in this emerging field and the first Southeast Asian Contemporary auction hopes to provide a broad and informed introduction to the extraordinary range of art practice in the region to international and Asian collectors, in particular those who are keen to embrace and support our own contemporary culture.

This pioneer sale of contemporary Southeast Asian art will feature over 100 works, from paintings to works on paper to photography and sculpture from the late 1960s through to the present day.

On sale will be works by key artists such as Santiago Bose (Philippines), Heri Dono (Indonesia) Wong Hoy Cheong (Malaysia), Simryn Gill (Singapore/ Malaysia), Mella Jaarsma (Indonesia/Netherlands), Nindityo Adipurnomo (Indonesia), Manuel Ocampo (Philippines), Agus Suwage (Indonesia), Manit Sriwanichpoom (Thailand) as well as younger emerging artists Natee Utarit (Thailand), Yee I-Lann (Malaysia), Alfredo Esquillo (Philippines), Putu Sutawijaya (Indonesia), the Jendela Group: Yunizar, Jumaldi Alfi, Rudi Mantofani, Handiwirman Saputra and Yusra Martunus (Indonesia), Nona Garcia (Philippines) and Eko Nugroho (Indonesia) to name just a few.

The sale will highlight major themes and concerns such as the contemporary body, politics and society, pop culture and new approaches in painting and sculpture.