Singapore, the tightly run city-state in Southeast Asia, leaving as little as possible to chance. From the point of view of the since independence in 1965, the same leadership Unpredictability means risk. Therefore, the Singaporeans to plan ahead for decades to come. Managers love this, because you know what you are asking for. Artists fall in love with such a state at best, if he supports you. Does Singapore, if these artists remain apolitical and not to the company’s structure to shake. Some of them, wanted more, went, especially since a strict censorship prevails.

Christoph Hein

Economics correspondent for South Asia/Pacific, based in Singapore.

F. A. Z.

The rich tropical island, the courts developed thanks to hard work from Nothing to become one of the leading Economy, focused for decades on the earn money on the security of income of their now almost six million inhabitants. There are factories and dwellings, hospitals and universities were created. From the criminal to the cave. after the crackdown, the “city of fines” – the “fine city”, as the Singaporeans themselves joke ambiguous Low tax rates make the island an attractive proposition. One thing was missing, however: the joy of life.

More than tennis courts

Here you came to make money. Not more and not less. The got Singapore to feel more and then, when it planned a leap in development. The creators of the city-state talent to put on from the Silicon Valley, said at the latest the wives: More than tennis courts and the “friends of museums” didn’t seem the city has to offer you. Therefore, Singapore art opened. First, they funded a Cabaret from Paris, then the Tyler-Print-Institute, works of art on paper Safe stop, the polished reputation. Soon, however, the Biennale, the first art against the – Singapore – practiced death penalty was allowed to show, only no one moan about censorship. Then the state funded galleries, helped with the Design of exhibitions. A University of the arts was expanded, museums opened. A big vault at the airport makes the money so that collectors can store their million-Dollar works of there tax-free.

Early, the Chance of Lorenzo Rudolf, the former makers of the Art Basel recognized. Together with a number of gallery owners, he settled on the art market in South East Asia. Not least, of course, because the market is promising thanks to the talents in Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines, the next Bonanza, after China and India. So Rudolf built the art fair “Art Stage” in Singapore. His dedication was enormous: The Impresario brought collectors, gallerists, critics and architects, on the stage, created space for the artists of the Region, was formed. The exhibition around Singapore has created an art week, which brought fresh Wind. As beautiful as the concept was – it didn’t work. Because of the city with the highest millionaire density in the world, there is no basis for a “Florence of the 21st century.Century“. The Rich buy their art in Basel, Miami and Hong Kong. And the art scene believes that in the military dictatorship of Thailand, Muslim Indonesia free work as in the censorship state. Especially since the cost alone for studios everywhere lower than in Singapore.