Gaining gallery representation isn’t an easy journey. Bibichun and Tang Tze Lye share with us how they got their works into local and international galleries.
By Yasmin Bathamanathan
Gallery representation for artists is much-coveted and yet not easy to come by. How does it help an artist and is it really that difficult to secure? We talk to two Penang artists with different forms of representation about their journey to snagging the representation and the impact on their career as artists.
Bibichun
Arriving in Penang in 2012 when street art was just blowing up, painter Bibichun joined numerous group shows at the then-upcoming Hin Bus Depot. That was how he first got on the radar of Artemis Art Gallery. Few years in, he and fellow artist Sattama collaborated with Artemis Art on a two-man show. Subsequently, the excess artworks were brought out to Taiwan and Bangkok where Artemis Art exhibited them at hotel art fairs. “My work was more appealing to the Bangkok market, where one or two pieces were sold,” said Bibichun.
Bibichun. Photo courtesy of the artist
For Bibichun, exposure to new markets has taken form in other less direct manners as well. An avid believer and supporter of art groups and collectives, he participated in numerous art camps organised by Sasaran Art Gallery Kuala Selangor. It was through his participation in the gallery’s art camp for ASEAN artists that he received invitations to exhibit in Thailand, Myanmar, and Austria.
While he isn’t directly or formally represented by an art gallery, Bibichun is one of the few Penang artists who has had their works represented internationally—which he says is equally as important to his career as an artist.
“Portfolio-wise, it’s definitely a milestone of achievement for me to have exhibited and been sold in Bangkok. To be able to sell outside [of Malaysia], you need the connection or representation. Having a gallery covers the business model needed to sell or market your art to the outside world. It’s a risk a gallery can take, but not me as an artist,” he added.
Tang Tze Lye
Artist Tang Tze Lye, who recently completed his Master’s degree in Studio-Based Practice from USM, has been based in Penang for the past four years. Currently having his first solo exhibition with Wei-Ling Gallery (WLG), Tang was one of two artists selected for the inaugural WLG Incubator Young Artists Mentorship Program in 2020.
Tang Tze Lye. Photo courtesy of Wei-Ling Gallery.
“My journey to getting this representation was a two-year process. I initially submitted my portfolio to the gallery by email and a year later was invited to submit my updated portfolio for the WLG incubator program. I initially attached a link to my Instagram account as it showed a range of my practice over the years. That and a good artist bio, and statement about my work, because a gallery needs to know what you do. Be professional, make it short and precise,” said Tang.
As an artist who explores the subjects of gender and queer identities, Tang said Instagram was a safe platform for him to explore his subject matter from the Malaysian context. His organic approach worked. It garnered attention from fellow artists and art professionals who nominated him for the incubator program.
The WLG Incubator was launched as a platform to highlight and collaborate on projects with emerging Malaysian artists. Over the six-month program, Tang worked with Ivan Lam, an established artist, as his mentor to discuss, research, explore, experiment, and develop new concepts.
Being represented by the gallery means he has had to up his game with respect to how he finishes and presents his works. This has had a huge impact on Tang. “Their collectors are serious art collectors, so it adds pressure on me to bring my artworks to a higher standard. It pushes me to create art that is more compelling and of a higher standard. I know that for my work to be seen, the quality and finishing has to be on point,” he added. And this of course affects the way his artworks are priced.
While Tang’s professional journey with the gallery is still relatively new, the next project is already in the works as his pieces will be exhibited at IGNITE by WLG’s booth at the upcoming Art Expo – “Art for All”.
While it’s clear from both Bibichun and Tang that having the backing of a gallery, be it directly or indirectly, helps an artist on their career progression, there isn’t a straight-cut path to getting representation. A whole lot of perseverance, hard work and persistence with a sprinkling of luck and right timing seems to be essential. That and perhaps more support for galleries to take the risk to invest in and represent young and emerging artists.
Yasmin Bathamanathan is an occasional writer, poet and playwright based in Penang.