Of the 83 galleries presented from around the globe, seven galleries from Thailand, along with three galleries plus one collector in Singapore, presented 15 Thai artists at the three-day fair.

Under its geographical interaction, Art Stage Singapore 2018 remained committed in focusing its engagement on Southeast Asia and this year featured a special focus on the new and vibrant art scene flourishing in the region – Thailand.

“The Thai art market is growing fast,” said Lorenzo Rudolf, the fair director. “Moreover, the infrastructure in Thailand’s art scene is also growing with new private museums, more seriously managed art galleries opening around town, private companies investing in art and art adviser organisations.”

Prominent Thai conceptual artist Rirkrit Tiravanija’s new prints are highlighted at the fair. Photo/Phatarawadee Phataranawik

Represented at Singapore’s STPI-Creative Workshop & Gallery, prominent Thai conceptual artist Rirkrit Tiravanija showed his new prints – priced between S$8,700 (Bt209,000) and S$32,000 (Bt769,000) – at the fair.

Bangkok’s Numthong Gallery returned to the fair again with Kamin Lertchaiprasert’s remarkable installation, “The Timeless Present Moment” which draws attention to many Asian collectors. Tang Gallery Bangkok presented Sakarin Krue-On’s new installation, “A Talebearer’s Tale”.

Singapore’s Richard Koh Fine Art presented Natee Utarit’s new painting series, “Untitled Poems of Theodore Rousseau”.

Along with these superstars, five galleries introduced 10 emerging artists. For the first time, Nova Contemporary showed an interactive conceptual photography installation, “The Shads Would Shatter at Touch” by Tada Hengsapkul whose his work was sold at the fair. A newly opened gallery named I Project presented Pornprasert Yamazaki’s new installation, “Fountain”.

Presented by Whitespace Gallery Bangkok, Maitree Siriboon returned to the fair with his new installation, “The Money Tree Project 2018”.

Number I Gallery brought works by Kittisak Thapkoa, Tewaporn Maikonhkaw and Boonhlue Yangsouy. SAC Gallery Bangkok is showing works by Thidarat Chantachua, Verapong Sritrakulkitjakarn and Kma Sirisamphan.

Manit Sriwanichapoom’s 2007 installation “Pink Men vs Pink Buddha” is also highlighted at the fair as part of a grand selling exhibition of Asian contemporary works from the Tiroche DeLeon Collection.

Represented by Singapore’s Art Season, a stunning series of fibreglass sculptures of Buddha Statues with Lego heads by Komkrit Thepthien also drew the attention of many collectors.

Singapore’s Richard Koh Fine Art presents Natee Utarit’s new painting series, “Untitled Poems of Theodore Rousseau”.  Photo/Phatarawadee Phataranawik

Five young Thai winning UOB Art Awards were also presented at the fair.

Art Stage Singapore started in 2011 as a flagship art fair for Southeast Asia established by Swiss national Rudolf, who used to be director of Art Basel in the mid-1990s.

Aiming to make Singapore the Southeast Asian art hub, Rudolf and his team have brought more than 500 galleries to the Singapore fair since 2011, but the participating galleries decline yearly citing poor sales. Last year saw 131 galleries participate, while this year the attendance was trimmed down to 83 galleries. Behind Hong Kong, the Singapore art market is smaller and this year’s fair was the smallest.

“The art market in Singapore is weaker, as less collectors buy art. But we hope this year’s highlights, including the vibrant Thai art market, masterpieces by American artist Alexander Calder and a special exhibition by Colombia figurative artist and sculptor Fernado Botero will capitalise the market,” said Rudolf, who also runs Art Stage Jakarta.

“We still keep running Art Stage in Singapore and need to make the fair sustainable and turn Singapore into the art hub of Southeast Asia,” he hoped.

Art Stage is part of Singapore’s Art Week, held by the National Art Council with Thai-focused events. Rirkrit also opened his new show, featuring new installation “Untitled 2018 (the infinite dimensions of smallness)” on the rooftop of the National Gallery Singapore where Pinaree Sanpitak also exhibited her new installation. Meanwhile, Apichatpong Weerasethakul showed his critically acclaimed work, “Fever Room” at Victoria Theatre.

Surely, the fair and Festival benefit the Thai art market and art scene.

“Thai artists are exhibited and known in a greater sphere of the art context, but in an art fair context, I think it will widen the collecting base for Thai art and artists,” said Rirkrit.

“There is a great wealth of collectors in Southeast Asia, and the exposure of a Thai art programme certainly could be beneficial. On the other hand, the Ministry of Culture in Thailand, should take note of how Singapore and its government has been supporting and promoting art and culture, with first Singapore Art Museum (and its great collection of SEAsian artists), and the newly opened National Gallery, as well as Art Stage.

Singapore’s government also gave grants to Singaporean based galleries to apply and exhibit in art fairs around the globe. The Thailand ministry should consider such a support, as galleries are the infrastructure for the cultivation of artists and their art,” said Rirkrit, who is an adviser to the Bangkok Art Biennale opening in Bangkok in October.

Tang Gallery Bangkok presents Sakarin Krue-On’s new installation, “A Talebearer’s Tale”.  Photo/Phatarawadee Phataranawik

An advisory board chaired by former Thai foreign minister Surakiart Sathirathai has lashed out at the recent resignation of US member Bill Richardson, saying his accusation that the board was “whitewashing” or “cheerleading” Aung San Suu Kyi over the Rohingya crisis completely lacked legitimacy.

Richardson’s statement and personal attack on Suu Kyi and himself are groundless, Surakiart said.

In a statement late on Thursday, the board said Richardson, who is a long-time friend of Suu Kyi, had to be asked to leave the body.

“The board feels that constructive and positive work can be done to help bring peace, reconciliation and economic progress for all communities in the Rakhine state,” the statement said.

In the meantime, a Myanmar government spokesman also hit back on Thursday, accusing Richardson of over-stepping the mark in his stinging resignation letter. “He should review himself over his personal attack against our State Counsellor,” government spokesman Zaw Htay told AFP, using Suu Kyi’s title.

“We understand his emotion about the two Reuters correspondents. However, he needs to understand, rather than blaming the Myanmar nation and the State Counsellor.”

Zaw Htay said the issue of the arrests was not in Richardson’s mandate and he should not have brought it up at his meeting with Suu Kyi.

Myanmar national journalists Wa Lone, 31, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 27, working for Reuters face a possible 14 years in prison under the colonial-era Official Secrets Act for allegedly possessing classified documents that they say were given to them by two policemen.

Richardson quit the board, as he was incensed over the suppression of press freedom in Myanmar, among other issues. He accused Aung San Suu Kyi of lacking the sincerity and moral leadership needed to tackle the crisis.

Richardson, a former governor of the US state of New Mexico and former US ambassador to the United Nations, was one of five members who agreed to join the Advisory Board on the Implementation of Recommendations on Rakhine State last year.

He publicly expressed concern that Surakiart was not “genuinely committed” to implementing the recommendations made last August, just as the current crisis erupted, by the Rakhine Advisory Commission led by former United Nations chief Kofi Annan.

Richardson also did not feel Surakiart was committed to addressing the root causes of the conflict in Rakhine.

Surakiart “parroted the dangerous and untrue notion that international NGOs employ radicals and that the humanitarian agencies are providing material support to ARSA”, he said, referring to the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, a militant group that launched attacks on Myanmar security outposts last summer.

Surakiart rejected the allegation, saying he had never made such a statement. On the contrary, the board welcomed more participation of the United Nations and the international community. It had made recommendations for more press freedom, he said.

The August attack ignited the exodus of more than 650,000 refugees from Rakhine state to Bangladesh as well as atrocities against the displaced persons. Nay Pyi Taw and Dhaka agreed to repatriate them within two years. The process was supposed to begin on Tuesday but has been delayed due to the Rohingya refusing to return unless their human rights are recognised and with NGOs and the UN reporting ongoing burning of Rohingya villages along with killings and rape.

Surakiart said the board had recommended a national initiative to set up an independent fact-finding probe into the August incident and its aftermath.

In the statement, the board said it intended to engage in an open dialogue with all relevant stakeholders, although it recognised that it is not an investigation body. “Its aim is to develop mutual trust and respect and to demonstrate our desire to understand the hopes, fears, and aspirations of the people of Rakhine and of Myanmar,” it said.

International members of the board visited Myanmar between Monday and Thursday as it had its first meetings with Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other key officials in her government. They also visited the strife-torn Rakhine State to meet with the local people of all communities – Rakhine Buddhists, Muslim minorities and Hindus.

The challenges that lie ahead in Rakhine state will not be resolved quickly or easily and, ultimately, it will be up to the people to determine how to achieve a more peaceful and prosperous Rakhine state, it said.

The world has changed to the era of digital media, in which people can access news and information whenever they desire. The rise of digital media has enabled everyone to play the role of journalists, he said.

Thepchai was speaking in his welcome statement at the CAJ’s 19th General Assembly meeting, held in Bangkok. Thepchai yesterday took over the CAJ presidency from Nguyen Thuan Huu, president of the Vietnam Journalists Association. He will hold the position for two years.

Thepchai said the CAJ meeting will emphasise how to tackle so-called “fake news” to ensure the public receives correct and trustworthy information.

In its Plan of Action issued yesterday, the Confederation of Thailand Journalists reported that it would work with Thailand’s On-line News Providers Association to organise a regional forum, tentatively scheduled for July, on the issue of “fake news”. The forum will also discuss the role of professional media in dealing with the challenge. Each CAJ member country will be invited to send a representative to attend the forum.

The meeting also welcomed the Club of Cambodian Journalists as member of the CAJ, joining an organisation founded 42 years ago. Representatives from the Myanmar Journalists Association were also attending the meeting as observers.

“So we can say that the spirit of Asean is in full display at the meeting,” Thepchai told the audience.

Thailand’s Industry Minister Uttama Savanayan told those at the opening ceremony that people are now confronted with powerful change, particularly unstoppable technological advances which are often innovative and sometimes disruptive.

Discussing the digital era in his keynote speech, Uttama said digital and infrastructure connectivity is promoting fundamental changes in the ways people communicate, businesses interact and public service is being delivered, as well as the role and nature of the media industry.

Following the rapid growth of connectivity via digital platforms, there is now a significant upsurge of collaboration in various forms and arenas.

“These days, most success stories come when people collaborate through sharing ideas and information to combine expertise that spurs innovation, creation and new chances,” Uttama said.

He also told the audience of the Thai government’s launch of “Thailand 4.0”, which he described as a holistic roadmap to guide the transformation of the Thai economy towards a value-based, innovation-driven economy.

Talking about the media’s challenges, Uttama said that the public itself is evolving from mere passive receivers of content to become active creators, directors and broadcasters of content themselves.

In a statement late on Thursday, the board said Richardson, who is a long-time friend of Suu Kyi, had to be asked to leave the body.

“The board feels that constructive and positive work can be done to help bring peace, reconciliation and economic progress for all communities in the Rakhine State,” the statement said.

Richardson quit the board as he was incensed over the suppression of press freedom in Myanmar, among other issues. He accused Aung San Suu Kyi of lacking the sincerity and moral leadership to tackle the crisis.

Richardson, a former governor of the US state of New Mexico and former US Ambassador to the United Nations, was one of five members who agreed to join the Advisory Board on the Implementation of Recommendations on Rakhine State last year.

He publicly expressed concern that Surakiart was not “genuinely committed” to implementing the recommendations made last August, just as the current crisis erupted, by the Rakhine Advisory Commission led by former United Nations chief Kofi Annan.

Nor did Richardson feel Surakiart was committed to addressing the root causes of the conflict in Rakhine.

Surakiart “parroted the dangerous and untrue notion that international NGOs employ radicals and that the humanitarian agencies are providing material support to ARSA,” he said, referring to the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, a militant group that launched attacks on Myanmar security outposts last summer.

The attack ignited the exodus of over 640,000 refugees from Rakhine State to Bangladesh as well as atrocities against the displaced persons. Nay Pyi Taw and Dhaka agreed to repatriate them within two years. The process was supposed to begin on Tuesday but has been delayed due to the Rohingya refusing to return unless their human rights are recognised and with NGOs and the UN reporting ongoing burning of Rohingya villages along with killings and rape.

In the statement, the board said it intended to engage in an open dialogue with all relevant stakeholders, although it recognised that it is not an investigatory body. “Its aim is to develop mutual trust and respect and to demonstrate our desire to understand the hopes, fears, and aspirations of the people of Rakhine and of Myanmar,” it said.

Reacting to Richardson’s statement, it said the advisory board members met together with open minds, to listen to all perspectives, and to learn, in order to formulate their collective views.

“We agreed to speak with one voice, and to provide our preliminary recommendations to the implementation committee in the next few months. It was the first time we had met in Myanmar. We had not yet agreed to submit any advice to the implementation committee. Therefore, any statement about the board ‘whitewashing’ or ‘cheerleading’ for anyone lacks complete legitimacy.”

“The board was informed that one international member of the board, Mr Bill Richardson, had to be asked to leave,” the statement said.

One-time Suu Kyi ally Richardson was one of five foreign members hand picked by Myanmar’s civilian leader to serve on the committee.

But after a three-day visit to Myanmar, Richardson struck out at his hosts, saying he could not in “good conscience” sit on a panel he feared would only “whitewash” the causes of the Rohingya crisis.

He lambasted Nobel Laureate Suu Kyi for an “absence of moral leadership” over Rakhine and described her “furious response” to his calls to free two Reuters journalists arrested while covering the crisis.

A Myanmar government spokesman hit back Thursday, accusing the former New Mexico Governor Richardson of over-stepping the mark in his stinging resignation letter.

“He should review himself over his personal attack against our State Counsellor,” government spokesman Zaw Htay told AFP.

“We understand his emotion about the two Reuters correspondents. However, he needs to understand, rather than blaming the Myanmar nation and the State Counsellor.”

Zaw Htay said the issue of the arrests was not in Richardson’s mandate and he should not have brought it up at his meeting with Suu Kyi.

Myanmar nationals Wa Lone, 31, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 27, face a possible 14 years in prison under the Official Secrets Act for allegedly possessing classified documents that they say were given to them by two policemen.

They are waiting to hear whether they will be granted bail in a protracted case that could take months to even get to trial.

It is thought they had been reporting on atrocities committed by security forces in Rakhine.

Troops backed by hardline Buddhist mobs have torched hundreds of Rohingya villages, forcing nearly 690,000 to flee over the border into overflowing camps in Bangladesh.

They have brought with them consistent testimony of murder, rape and arson in violence the UN and US have condemned as ethnic cleansing.

Richardson’s resignation came after Myanmar and Bangladesh failed to meet a January 23 deadline to begin the complex and contested repatriation of refugees.

Richardson joined the Myanmar board as a private citizen, but the US State Department said the Washington administration shares many of his concerns.

After his trip to Myanmar, the diplomat said he was shocked by the disparagement of the media, the UN, human rights groups and the international community by some fellow panel members and Myanmar authorities.