Paving the future for art

AT 21, most youngsters would be busy pursuing or finishing their majors in university. Not this young man, though. Joshua Tan Yi-Shaun decided to open his own art gallery, Malaysia Art Network, which features a collection of local artworks. He believes that his gallery could help bring forward the Malaysian art scene.
"My mum is a collector herself, so I have always been surrounded by art from a young age. After my A levels, she asked if I would like to take over her collection and build up my own from it," Tan explained. What started out as a hobby, soon developed into a passion,and it cultivated Tan into an art connoisseur.
"As my compilation grew, other art collectors began to ask about some of my pieces, and that was when I started trading art," said the 23-year-old.
He opened his first art gallery in a small soho unit to display his collections, but soon realised that he was running out of space.
"That was when I decided to move to this bigger space in Petaling Jaya,where I also offer framing services for artworks," he noted.
Tan, whose entire collection is by local artists, hopes to help the Malaysian art scene mature by connecting with other collectors and galleries overseas.
As a young collector, what are some of the reactions you have gotten from the people in this industry?
Most of the collectors and artists whom I have met were not aware of my age, and automatically assumed that I was about 25. They'd find out my actual age after a few meetings, and would be shocked.
Do you think that knowledge affects your art trade in any way?
Not at all. I always ensure that my knowledge of the industry is constantly updated, and I maintain good relationships with my artists. This way, when I talk to collectors, they can always count on my insight and information. I think it also gives them more confidence to buy from me, because they know that I am young and will be in the industry for a very long time.
Are your peers supportive of your decision to start a business?
Actually, most of my friends do not even know about it. I've been running Malaysia Art Network for almost two years, and it was only until an article came out that everyone started asking me about it. My close friends are definitely supportive now that they know! However, I still try to maintain a low profile to avoid attracting any negative influences.
What is your favourite genre of art?
I am a fan of abstract art because it can be interpreted differently based on your mood, feelings and life experience. I find it very interesting. My mom wasn't too pleased about it at first though; she was more of a figurative art collector, but she has since started to understand my appreciation for it.
Who would you say is your favourite abstract artist of the moment?
Awang Damit Ahmad – he was the first abstract artist whose work I collected. I like his work because each has a story to it. He paints based on his emotions, childhood, and his life in the fishing village, which really adds depth to his art. Also, he's a very nice guy!
Bring us through a typical day in your life.
When I first started out, my days were mostly filled with meetings with gallery owners and collectors, visiting various art galleries, and also spending time with my artists. Now I spend most of my time in my own gallery, but I still enjoy making social visits in between running the business.