“Of Dreams and Contemplation: I am All but A Story – Collection of Richard Koh” presented by The Private Museum, Singapore
Venue: The Private Museum, 11 Upper Wilkie Road, Singapore 228120 Exhibition Period: 09 January – 09 March 2025
Of Dreams and Contemplation: I am All but a Story – Collection of Richard Koh, showcases Richard Koh’s personal art collection in Singapore, from 9 January to 9 March 2025. This exhibition, coinciding with Singapore Art Week 2025, marks the second time Koh’s private collection will be presented at The Private Museum, offering audiences a fresh glimpse into his evolving journey as a collector and gallerist.
In 2019, Koh’s first showcase at The Private Museum, Of Dreams and Contemplation: Selections from the Collection of Richard Koh, offered an intimate look at 33 works from over 20 years of collecting. Now, Of Dreams and Contemplation: I am All but a Story – Collection of Richard Koh builds upon that narrative, presenting a new selection of works that reflect Koh’s personal interactions with contemporary art and the artists he deeply admires.
Collected with a focus on memory and emotion, Koh’s private collection reveals his preference for minimalist and abstract works that evoke specific personal moments—what he often calls “Landscapes of Memory” is highly personal, rooted in the emotional resonance each piece holds for him. From Southeast Asia to the international art world, these works reflect his private journey, delving into art, life, and memory.
As founder of Richard Koh Fine Art (RKFA), Koh has been a significant figure in shaping the Southeast Asian art market for over two decades. His gallery, with locations in Singapore, Bangkok, and Kuala Lumpur, has championed contemporary artists from the region and beyond. The collaboration between RKFA and The Private Museum on this project underscores Koh’s ongoing commitment to creating meaningful dialogues between collectors, artists, and the public.
This exhibition invites viewers to explore Koh’s deeply personal collection, offering a rare insight into the mind of a veteran gallerist who has spent much of his career promoting the works of others while quietly building a collection of his own.
Richard Koh said, “Showing one’s art collection is a deeply personal experience. These works all hold profound emotions, each marking significant or quiet moments in the seasons of my life. I hope that by sharing this segment of my personal collection, “Of Dreams and Contemplation” will encourage audiences to shed their preconceptions around collecting art, and inspire them to find their own entry points, possibly viewing this passion of collecting with a fresh lens of accessibility, affinity, and awe.”
About The Private Museum
The Private Museum is a non-profit private museum in Singapore founded by Singaporean philanthropist, art collector and real estate developer, Daniel Teo, together with his daughter Rachel Teo in 2010. Fuelled by passionate patronage for the arts, the museum aims to be an alternative platform to bridge the gap between the private and the public. With a vision to promote art appreciation, the independent arts space engages local, regional and international audiences from all walks of life.
For further information about the exhibition, please do not hesitate to contact info@rkfineart.com
All images are subjected to copyright.
1) Agus Suwage – Immaterial, 2019, Oil on linen, 150 x 145 cm
Image Courtesy Of The Private Museum
2) Ben Puah – Flying birdies in my brain No.1, 2022, Acrylic on canvas, 153.5 x 153.5 x 6.5 cm (framed)
Image Courtesy Of The Private Museum
3) Natee Utarit – The Green, 2008, Oil on canvas, 255 x 195 cm
Image courtesy of artist and Richard Koh Fine Art
4) Thomas Houseago – Gold Walking Man, 2021, Bronze, 215 x 195.6 x 104 cm
Photo credited to Stefan Altemburger, courtesy of the artist and Xavier Hufkens, Brussels
For more information, please contact:
TQPR Thailand
Tom Van Blarcom or Nuie Titichayapon
Tel: 0 2260 5820 Email: tom@tqpr.com | nuie@tqpr.com