Two Houses: Politics and Histories in the Contemporary Art Collections of John Chia and Yeap Lam Yang

Committed collectors John Chia and Yeap Lam Yang have assembled significant collections of contemporary art over 20 and 30 years respectively. They share a focus on contemporary Southeast Asian art, but their acquisitions reflect their different personalities and interests. 

The catalyst for Two houses was the companionable relationship between the younger Dr Chia and his friend and mentor, Mr Yeap. Both are part of a new group of art collectors in Southeast Asia whose activities are enlarging the reach of contemporary artists' practices beyond the studio and gallery, forging new private-public partnerships, and enabling alternative art-historical narratives that reflect the region's cultural diversity. 

Yeap Lam Yang and John Chia have each selected 20 works that explore the theme of civic life-social justice, labour politics, human rights and freedoms, and nationhood. Thirty-five artists are represented by 40 works or groups of works made of diverse media between 1986 and 2018. The exhibition is accompanied by a full-colour catalogue writing by 19 contributors.

Artists

Aida Makoto, Alfredo Aquilizan and Isabel Aquilizan, Elmer Borlongan, Chang Fee Ming, Dadang Christanto, Tiffany Chung, John Clang, eX de Medici, Heri Dono, Le Quang Ha, FX Harsono, Jeremy Hiah, Ho Rui An, Michael Lee, Lee Wen, Li Shurui, Phuan Thai Meng, Sopheap Pich, Qiu Zhijie, Alwin Reamillo, Chanelle Rose, José Santos III, Hiraki Sawa, Semsar Siahaan, Shi Hu, Shooshie Sulaiman, Manit Sriwanichpoom, Sun Xun, Tang Dixin, Inga Svala Thorsdottir and Wu Shanzhuan, Natee Utarit, Vandy Rattana, Wong Hoy Cheong, Zai Kuning, Robert Zhao Renhui

Writers

Amelia Abdullahsani, Usha Chandradas, Elaine Chiew, Lucia Cordeschi, Pauline Gan, Christine Han, Fang-Tze Hsu, Kamiliah Bahdar, Qinyi Lim, Melanie Pocock, Caterina Riva, Anca Rujoiu, Simon Soon, Bala Starr, Syaheedah Iskander, Clare Veal, Wardah Mohamad, Selene Yap, Marcus Yee

Download exhibition guide 

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image: Vandy Rattana, Funeral of My Father (video still), 2018, high-defination digital video projection, 16:9 aspect ratio, colour, sound, 45:09 minutes © Courtesy the artist.