It isn’t a secret anymore that visionary art collectors have a lot to do with the success of
museums. From making notable donations to exhibiting a variety of art collections –
several museums depend on art collectors. The same is true for China – where many
big-name art collectors have chosen to invest in this industry.
The country’s economic boom and political freedom have encouraged this further, with
several millionaires joining the industry. In fact, the net value of collectors showcasing
their art pieces in both public and private collections in China has far surpassed that in
the US. Here are some of the top Chinese art collectors worth following.
Qiao Zhibing
A sound engineer and the owner of 3 bars in China, Qiao Zhibing, began collecting art in
2015 for decorating his nightclubs. His art collection consists of pieces from some of the
top Chinese artists like Zhan Enli and Liu Wei Yang Fudong, as well as from international
artists like Argentines Villa Rojas. In fact, he claims to have bought one of the art pieces
in his collection for over a million pounds!
The Tank Shanghai Complex, which he opened in 2019 to showcase his collection, has
emerged as one of the best recreational facilities and museums in the country at present.
Adrian Cheng
A huge promoter of contemporary Chinese culture, Adrian Cheng is the owner of K11 Art
Malls. The leader of New World Development met with success after he decided to
combine Chinese contemporary art with his retail service. The K11 Art Malls display
artworks created by Chinese artists and have conducted over 60 exhibitions till date.
Uli Sigg
Another very influential art collector from China, Uli Sigg, has donated a significant
portion of his collected artworks to the M+ museum. Despite that, his personal collection
exceeds 1500 pieces. His collection, which includes videos, paintings, installations, and
photographs, consists of both contemporary and traditional works by leading Chinese
artists.
John Dodelande
John Dodelande is an art collector focussed on contemporary Chinese art from Mainland China. Dodelande, who is well-known in Western countries as an ambassador of Chinese contemporary art, has been actively organizing art exhibitions in both China and Georgia.
Additionally, he has recently partnered with Adrian Cheng to write a book titled “Chinese
Art: The Impossible Collection.”
Wang Wei and Liu Yiquan
Wang Wei and Liu Yiquan are the owners of two art museums located in West Bund and
Pudong, respectively. The museums showcase a wide variety of pieces ranging from
modern and traditional Chinese calligraphy to contemporary art. In fact, some of the
pieces in their collection date back to the days of the Song dynasty.
Budi Tek
Budi Tek is the founder of the Yuz Foundation that is associated with funding Chinese
artists and institutions. He began his career in China’s food industry and has been
collecting art pieces for over a decade. At present, his collection features over 1500
contemporary art pieces from China.
Summing Up
Chinese art is quite different from that of other countries. Chinese contemporary art is
based on a harmonious blend of old themes and techniques with new styles – something
that is noticeable in the wonderful collections of John Dodelande and other Chinese art
collectors. Following the leading art collectors mentioned above can help one understand
