How is arts patronage evolving in Southeast Asia?

Alan Lo, Co-Founder, Yenn and Alan Lo Foundation, Singapore
Purat Osathanugrah, Chairman and President, Dib Bangkok, Bangkok
Moderator: Zoe Butt, Founder and Director, in-tangible institute, Chiang Mai

While Hong Kong hosts the world’s largest number of collectors who identify as patrons, many other philanthropists across Southeast Asia are nurturing artistic transformations in their local contexts, fostering regional and global connections and visibility with their support. In this discussion, influential figures from the region will share their motives and tactics for supporting the arts.

An entrepreneur, investor, and a leading voice in the Asian cultural scene, Alan Lo is cofounder of the Singapore-based Yenn and Alan Lo Foundation (YAL Foundation). YAL Foundation is committed to nurturing the development of Asian transnational artistic practices and fostering dialogue with the artistic community in Singapore and the region. It was the founding sponsor of the inaugural SAM S.E.A. Focus Art Fund to recognize and acquire iconic works of contemporary Southeast Asian Art for the Singapore Art Museum’s collection. The fund supported the acquisition of works by emerging artists such as Tan Zi Hao, Phi Phi Oanh, Saroot Supasuthivech, Lai Yu Tong, and Agan Harahap. Lo has served on boards of numerous cultural institutions including the Design Trust; Para Site (as board chair); Advisory Council of Princeton University Art Museum; Tate Asia-Pacific Acquisitions Committee; and Global Council of Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles.

A forward-thinking pioneer with the insight of an educator and the passion of an art enthusiast, Purat Osathanugrah envisions Dib Bangkok as a global hub for creative learning – an inspiring space designed to engage the next generation of artists, thinkers, and innovators. More than just a contemporary art museum, Dib Bangkok represents the culmination of a multigenerational mission to transform the modern art landscape. It serves as a cultural sanctuary where artistic expression nurtures spiritual connections and fosters meaningful cross-cultural dialogue.

Zoe Butt is a curator, writer, and the founding director of in-tangible institute, a curatorial platform in Chiang Mai, Thailand, nurturing locally responsive infrastructure for the arts across Southeast Asia. Butt has an extensive exhibition, publishing, and public-speaking history globally, and has led artist-driven initiatives for over 15 years in China and Vietnam. She holds a PhD by published work from the University of Westminster, London and is currently the lead advisor for Southeast Asia and Oceania at the KADIST Art Foundation.

The Art Basel Hong Kong 2025 Conversations program is curated by Stephanie Bailey.