the first believer

I have no art school pedigree.

I have no institutions I can name drop.

I am to the art world what an under-networked first-time founder is in the world of venture.

But I’m grateful to have found my first (institutional) believer as an artist - the gallerist of Galerie Hoang Beli who gave me a shot.

Earlier this month I had my first solo show. And the opening night was one of the most memorable of my life.

I believed for so long that a gallery show was not on the cards for me that I almost made ‘the independent artist’ part of my personality.

Let alone a gallery in Paris’ Le Marais art district.

I took the opportunity to invite the asian community in Paris to share the stage with me (Including a Cambodian dancer, Vietnamese pianist and Filipino DJ).

See below for a recap of the opening night on November 7th:

artistjsong

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However, as many footballers refer to - getting the big break to your desired club isn’t an achievement in itself. It’s what you do afterwards and the consistent effort you put in that counts.

Like the Venture Capital world, the art world can be difficult to navigate.

This moment has made me question what kind of artist I want to be:

• A venture-backed / gallery-backed artist

• A bootstrapped / independent artist

Am I making art for the market or am I making art for something greater?

For now I will continue to reflect on why I do what I do.

For anyone building anything - a startup, an agency, a podcast, a career etc etc

I invite you to do the same as we approach the end of the year.

If you've figured it out - tell me how. It isn’t easy.

A description of my exhibition:

In this exhibition, encounters with Parisian dancers unfold as intimate snapshots, each dance captured like a fleeting gesture. Arriving in the city just weeks ago, the artist set out to hunt for stories and inspiration by connecting with local dancers. An open call on Instagram in which he met 10 dancers led to spontaneous collaborations, transforming everyday streets into ephemeral stages. These works capture the grace and curiousness of movement and the spark of shared stories. Each piece reflects a dance’s unique energy, creating a visual diary of connection, creativity, and the vibrance of Parisian life.

The title ‘everything in life is a dance’ is inspired by a conversation James had with one of the dancers in the streets of Paris.