Visionaries tend to perpetuate themselves. Just as steel sharpens steel, the purpose-driven spirit that fuels men of action and distinction is positively inspiring and contagious.
Dennis Ouyang can testify to the two-way truth of that phenomenon. Inspired by the possibilities around contemporary art that he witnessed at Art Basel Miami 2019, he founded LOY Gallery four years later. Though headquartered in Singapore, the gallery functions as an internationally minded canvas for boundary-breaking art from all over the world.
What of follows is a glimpse into the essence of his endeavour at LOY Gallery.
Q: Take us behind your curation process, please.
A: When curating our program at LOY Gallery, we think about inspiring ideas and dialogue around each exhibition. As a relatively young gallery, we have the freedom to be experimental in our programming. We can incorporate ideas and influences from multiple sources. Through this, we hope visitors consider the various creative disciplines that art can draw from and the new perspectives they inspire.
Q: Why is art important to a gentleman?
A: A gentleman embodies certain characteristics, like intellectual curiosity and an openness to culture. Through the pursuit and appreciation of art, one is able to develop a clear point of view that distills these experiences, and draw connections with how they relate to us on a deeper level, whether philosophically or within the context of society.
Q: What led to you opening LOY Gallery?
A: Art has always been a deep source of inspiration for me. I visited Art Basel in Miami back in 2019 and it was an eye-opening experience that ignited my passion for art. That eventually led me to start LOY Gallery, with the vision for it to become a platform for artists to showcase impactful and intersectional contemporary art that can inspire new perspectives on creativity.
Q: What sets LOY Gallery apart from others?
A: With our latest exhibition ‘A Trail to Chase’, we encourage visitors to interact with the works through touch and tactile experience.
When conceptualising LOY Gallery, we were clear that we wanted to create a unique gallery space for thoughtful shows that give expression to artists with a clear voice, one that speaks to our moment in time. This is why many artists on show at ‘A Trail to Chase’ are multidisciplinary and intersectional, showcasing art that explores this larger theme of pushing the boundaries of creativity. It’s also this line of intersectional thinking that differentiates us, and will continue to determine our forward programming, bringing impactful and eclectic shows to our audiences.
By allowing visitors to engage in a tactile way that’s not commonly found in traditional galleries, we hope to challenge the common perception of how art can be experienced, and to create entry points for visitors to interact on a dynamic level. While this might not apply to every single one of our future exhibitions, our aim is to inspire fresh perspectives on how creativity is defined.
