May 27 • Questions for • Words by Limna

Questions for Shelly Wu

In the latest instalment of our interviews in the art world, we spoke to Shelly Wu of TKG+ Gallery in Taiwan. Having branched out from her mother’s gallery, Tina Keng, Wu now has one of the leading galleries in the region that exhibits some of Asia’s best talent.

How did you get started doing what you do?

SW: I grew up in NYC and realized that there are incredible young artists in Taiwan after I return. Sooner [or] later I decided to set up a platform to showcase them.

What’s the first painting you ever bought?

SW: A work by Tony Wong. He’s a Chinese-American artist based in NYC (1948-2012)

© Tony Wong. Courtesy of TKG+ Gallery.

What’s something you wish you knew when you first started collecting?

SW: I wish I knew more about the exciting art scenes across Asia.

What’s the most misunderstood aspect of the art market in your opinion?

SW: That there’s less potential for young and emerging artists from the Asian region.

Which painter are you currently really excited about?

SW: Sawangwongse Yawnghwe. His work provides multifaceted perspectives on painting, emotion, political history, and philosophical thinking. I believe his painting resonates with the contemporary world on a very deep level.

© Sawangwongse Yawnghwe. Courtesy of the artist and TKG+ Gallery.

What’s the last art-related Instagram post you liked or account you followed?

SW: Hong Kong-based artist Kong Chun Hei’s post on the last day of Art Basel Hong Kong.

What upcoming exhibitions are you looking forward to?

SW: Taiwan-based artist So Yo-Hen will present his first solo exhibition since 2017. This exhibition consists of a 50-day onsite project, where the artist reimagines the gallery space as an unaltered landscape where daily art practices take place.

Tell us about an artist who should be getting more attention.

SW: Hong Kong-based artist Kong Chun Hei. His unperturbed sense of observation and the uncanny atmosphere his work evokes fascinate me. He has created a unique artistic language weaving together his drawings, his videos, and installations. As you enter the space he creates, an immediate sense of solitude enfolds you.

© Kong Chun Hei. Courtesy of the artist and TKG+ Gallery.

What’s the best piece of art-world advice you’ve ever been given?

SW: My mentor advised me to branch out from my mother’s gallery, to establish a platform dedicated to contemporary art in Asia.

What gives you most confidence in an artist and their work?

SW: My experiences over the years. Not just collecting art but also being part of the scene.