In a Singapore art scene increasingly defined by ambition and acceleration, Christiaan Haridas represents a new generation of gallerists shaping its trajectory from within. With nearly two decades of experience across key institutions and galleries—including Singapore Tyler Print Institute (STPI), Gajah Gallery and Richard Koh Fine Art—Haridas launched his eponymous gallery Haridas Contemporary in 2023 as both a commercial platform and a long-term incubator for local talent. Now based at Tanjong Pagar Distripark, the gallery reflects a deliberate shift toward scale, visibility and curatorial confidence, with a program focused on promising and mid-career local artists alongside select regional voices. At its core is a structured, mentorship-driven approach: identifying promising graduates, nurturing their development through exhibitions and gradually introducing them to collectors and the market. Haridas positions his gallery not simply as a space for transactions, but as an active mediator between artists, collectors and the broader ecosystem—one that recognizes the economic realities facing young practitioners while pushing for greater confidence in the valuation and global relevance of Singaporean contemporary art.

What led you to open your own art gallery in 2023? Did you have any previous experience working in the art industry?

The idea of running my own gallery first manifested when I was a young gallery executive at STPI. Back then, I had a wonderful mentor who was very supportive of my development and trusted me with managing collectors. Although it was initially terrifying, I soon found that I had a flair for it. These skills I developed in client management and sales set the foundation for my future employment in other galleries. I firmly believe that anyone who is keen on running a gallery must have experience working from the ground up, a degree of fearlessness with sales and a passion for the visual arts.

As I started to approach my 40s, the thought of opening a gallery was always at the back of my mind. I often joke with my wife that opening the gallery was my version of a mid-life crisis. But she, ever so wise, reminded me that opening my own gallery was simply a natural progression given my career thus far, and that it was always just a matter of good timing. I left my position as gallery director of Richard Koh Fine Art in January 2023 and officially opened Haridas Contemporary in September 2023. I felt that it was the perfect time: I had a good amount of experience under my belt, but also the vitality of youth to keep up with the demands of this job.

Every gallery develops a signature—whether by medium, thematic explorations or emerging versus established talents. What is your gallery’s curatorial focus and how do the exhibitions you organize and artists you represent reflect this? How do you differentiate yourself within Singapore’s increasingly competitive commercial gallery scene?

Haridas Contemporary mainly works with emerging and mid-career Singaporean and Singapore-based artists, and also a selection of regional artists. As a passionate stakeholder in Singapore’s contemporary art scene, I feel a sense of personal responsibility to leverage my skill set and help Singaporean artists navigate the commercial side of the visual arts, especially fresh graduates. We attend the graduate shows at LASALLE College of the Arts and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts to look for students with unique voices and invite them to a group show at the gallery. After the group shows, they have a solo exhibition before we explore the possibility of representation. Although a long process, it is a necessary one for us to determine the artists we can work with.

The artists who are currently working with Haridas Contemporary, exclusively and on a project basis, do not overtly confront the socio-political fabric of Singapore and the region. Instead, it is more so about seeking to understand their place in this globalized world. Thus, the works seen in the gallery are sensitive to a globalized culture and awareness of new ideas and perspectives in how we might approach and comprehend art. Singapore is unique within the Southeast Asian region, and the art in Haridas Contemporary reflects that.

How do you nurture artists’ long-term careers, foster meaningful relationships with collectors and engage the wider public? Give specific examples.

I have always been a firm believer of balance in a young artist’s career. The economy of Singapore is demanding and graduates of art schools are often confronted with financial hurdles from the get-go. The longevity of a young artist’s career in Singapore is largely dependent on balancing between their personal career aspirations and the external pressures of achieving financial stability soon after graduation. Thus, as part of Haridas Contemporary’s mission to help emerging artists navigate their career in the commercial space, my wife would share with them real-life experiences of how she had balanced practice and work as a young artist. As a fellow artist herself, most of the artists would relate to her experiences.

It is essential that artists foster meaningful relationships with collectors, and this development usually happens beyond the gallery. Private studio visits for collectors are a great way for artists to share their practice and create opportunities to generate quality conversation. For young artists who work in their own homes, such visits can be challenging. Hence, Haridas Contemporary organizes private previews before the exhibition opening so that young artists can have such conversations in a professional and comfortable setting with the collectors.

Singapore’s art scene is evolving quickly—how is your gallery contributing to its growth, and what do you see as your role in shaping its future locally and internationally?

In order for the art scene to grow, the glass ceiling for contemporary art prices in Singapore must improve. To do so, leading contemporary artists in Singapore must endeavor to push their own ceilings in terms of pricing and scope of practice. Success for local artists in the academic and commercial realms must be celebrated and not subdued. Collectors must be presented with a strong reason why they should be paying a premium for Singaporean contemporary art. In essence, both artists and collectors need to believe. Haridas Contemporary is in its small way trying to create a sense of belief in this ecosystem through its brand of artist management. Haridas Contemporary endeavors to elevate its leading artists to inspire younger artists and to excite collectors in the potential of Singapore’s contemporary art in both market and academia.