How to buy art for a mood boost in Singapore
The right image will do more than look pretty and put a smile on your face
Text: Livvie B
Know the four walls of your home better than the back of your hand? Spending more time than ever inside throughout 2020 has made us more than familiar with our surroundings. What we may not be so aware about is how they’re contributing to our health and wellbeing. Having a clean, tidy environment is crucial for a mood boost, productivity and positivity, with numerous studies championing the link between the subtleties of art, interior design, and our mental health.
Indeed, you can have the most beautiful apartment, furniture and décor, but nothing pulls a room together like the art on your walls which helps to showcase your personality. In addition, the right art images can provide reminders of special places, people and memories in your life.
“Having a well-designed home is incredibly important,” says Talenia Phua Gajardo, founder of local art consultancy and online art gallery, The Artling. “Creating a warm and peaceful space including well-chosen art pieces is also conducive to getting things done.” She also adds that art should not only be a reflection of our own personality and narrative, but it can also be used as a way to holistically bring a room together.
Whilst the prospect of buying art can seem daunting (do you go modernist, cubist, nouvea?), there are some simple tips to follow to ensure that you select art pieces that will complement your home and become part of your décor for years to come.
So how do you go about finding it? Read on for Talenia’s tips:
There are no rules
It can be tempting to pick a colour or a theme for each room and stick to it. Pinterest has taught us to opt for one or two tones to create a pin-worthy space, however, Talenia doesn’t necessarily agree. When selecting art for your home, she says there are no rules: “Take your time, browse, explore and compare.” She also suggests mixing up styles and colour schemes for different rooms, although she says “this is a very personal choice and it really depends on the look and vibe you want to convey.”
Trust your gut
Don’t feel pigeon-holed into certain style and tones. Art that makes you feel good can be a gut feeling, so look for pieces that shout out to you — perhaps you found an amazing tapestry on a trip to Egypt or picked up a painting in Africa? If you’re attracted to a picture, it can be fun to find out more about the artist, values and background — doing so will also help to make a piece more meaningful to you.
Size matters
Talenia recommends making use of Augmented Reality Technology (AR) which many online platforms, including The Artling, offer. Having revolutionised the way art is bought and sold; AR can help buyers to essentially view the art — to scale — in their space. It can be near impossible to visualise a piece of art in your home whilst viewing it in a gallery, so making use of this technology, particularly when splashing out on a statement piece, can be really helpful.
Don’t break the bank
It’s easy to feel intimated by the world of art thanks to stereotypical images of high-end galleries with hefty price tags, but don’t let this be the case. “Art is for everyone and is available at all sorts of price points,” says Talenia. On The Artling, there are thousands of pieces suitable for all budgets and tastes, with prints from around SGD 100 all the way up into the high thousands.
Take your time
“There’s no need to rush as there really is something for everyone,” says Talenia. “Through exploring the world of art that makes you feel good, you will soon come to learn what you love and what you loathe and develop your own style.”
The Artling is an art consultancy and online gallery focused on highlighting the best of contemporary art and design from both emerging and established studios and galleries. Their online platform, theArtling.com, now lists over 250 galleries and 2,500 artists from around the world, with new artworks and design items added to the site daily. The Artling works internationally and is headquartered in Singapore, with a private viewing space and office in Shanghai.
