The Collectors: Terence Chan And His Fascination For Beauty

It is a consequence of his trade that Terence Chan has always loved beautiful things. The architect is the founder and design principal of Studio Terre, a multidisciplinary creative firm. Art represents one outlet of his self-expression.

What drives you to collect art?

I love timeless, crafted objects that transcend generations and cultures, and can be appreciated by many. They must be physical objects, but can be art, sculpture, art toys, design, furniture, fashion, watches, books, objects, and so on.

I enjoy touching, feeling, pondering, and admiring their beauty and imperfections. Art is a form of education and an ongoing conscious effort to discover the unknown.

From when you started collecting art to now, how has your journey evolved?

At the beginning, I only collected what I liked. As time passed, my collection became more of a collective based on specified parameters, characteristics, and qualities. They include figurative abstraction, single-subject matter, colour blocking, wit, and visual expression.

With each new addition, I must admit it’s becoming increasingly difficult to define this collective. After building a collection of more than 180 artists over two decades, it’s time to share them with a larger audience.

What are the pivotal artists or works in your collection?

Among all the artists I collect, one stands out. It’s this Korean artist I’ve been collecting since 2016 and I’ve seen him grow as an individual and an artist. His works are all over my office. His name is Yang Hyunjun. I first discovered him at the Affordable Art Fair in Singapore. Throughout his works, you can see how his life has progressed over the years, from his marriage to the birth of his first child, and more.

He has been painting for quite a while, so it’s interesting to see how his skills and techniques have developed with time. His recent solo show in New York was on canvas, but he started on Korean paper first.

How do you balance buying art that you like with investment pieces?

Well, I only collect what I like and within my means. I always imagine the work in my space, both in the public and private areas. From an investment perspective, I have a framework. Does it speak to me differently? You will know. It’s a feeling. It might be calming, haunting, pleasing, meditative, unpleasant, joyful, witty, and so on. The work will evoke different reactionary responses with different people, but that’s fine. We are all different.

Then I imagine it in an institutional space, such as a museum, and do lots of research by visiting galleries, institutions, and museums. If it can be pictured in a museum, then that is half the battle won. However, the fact that art can be viewed as an investment piece should not be the main justification for collecting it. It’s just the icing on the cake, a reward for taking that leap of faith.

Do you have any tips for novice collectors?

Don’t rush into buying art. Follow artists or galleries whose works you are drawn to, then study the artist and his or her history. Next, make sure you start with a budget first. Finally, enjoy the journey.