AA Articles

Maqbool Fida Husain (1915-2011), often called the "Picasso of India," transformed Indian mythology into bold modern art through sweeping strokes and vivid colors. His dynamic depictions of Hindu goddesses and symbols reimagined ancient myths for contemporary viewers, though his modernist approach sparked controversy and years of self-exile. In 2025, his work achieved record-breaking auction sales, including his Gram Yatra at USD 13.8 million. Today, Husain's fierce, unrelenting vision remains woven into India's visual memory, asking how we can honor our myths while seeing them anew.

In a moment that startled the paddock and the galleries alike, Lewis Hamilton revealed he had sold his entire car collection and was turning his attention to art — keeping only the idea of the Ferrari F40 as something he might admire as an object of design. That admission sets the frame for a deeper conversation about figures in motorsport and how they might turn to art for both enjoyment and investment.

What does it mean for a young nation to collect its own reflection? Since 1960, Singapore has been answering this question one artwork at a time, assembling not just paintings and sculptures, but fragments of identity itself. From Chuah Thean Teng's pioneering batik paintings to contemporary digital installations, Singapore's National Art Collection reveals the choices a nation makes about itself: what to preserve, what to show, who gets remembered. As Singapore commemorates SG60, we explore how art collecting became an act of sovereignty, cultural determination, and national dialogue.

Once a lifeline of trade and labour, the Singapore River has long captivated artists for its grit, rhythm, and symbolism. This essay explores how the artists essential  to Singapore's Art History have used the river as both subject and metaphor, reflecting shifting identities, values, and ambitions.

You never know when a trip to a thrift store or a garage sale might turn up something truly special. From overlooked paintings and ceramics to rare documents tucked away, these pieces remind us to look closely, appreciate the layers of life, maybe one day you too will find a truly special artwork.

The history of Taiwanese art mirrors the island’s fight for identity—caught between colonial legacies and cultural rebirth, artists turned to their work as resistance, reflection, and reclamation.

In recent decades, Indonesian art has grown into one of the most dynamic visual cultures in Southeast Asia—but its roots run deep. This piece traces the shifting artistic and political currents that have shaped Indonesian modernism, and how the two main schools of art based in Bandung and Yogyakarta continues to reshape what Indonesian art means.

Art restoration is a delicate balance between preservation and intervention. As materials age and deteriorate, conservators employ a meticulous blend of scientific analysis and traditional techniques to stabilise and revive artworks—ensuring their integrity while respecting their history. From Renaissance paintings to modern works, explore how restorers conserve artistic legacies for future generations.

Art and nightlife may seem like an unlikely pair—one thrives in contemplation, the other in chaos. Nightlife has long incubated radical artistic movements, fuelling connections and creativity, shaping the art world, and proving, perhaps, that art thrives beyond galleries.