# Helina Chan

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**Helina Chan** is a Singaporean gallerist. She is the founder and managing director of the iPreciation art gallery.

## Early life and education

Chan was born to an Indonesian-Chinese couple in [Shanghai](/source/Shanghai). After hearing rumours that her older sister would be sent to the countryside as part of the youth re-education programme, the family moved to [Hong Kong](/source/Hong_Kong), where Chan was raised. Although she initially wished to become an artist, her father was not supportive of her ambitions, believing that she would "end up a beggar". However, he allowed her to study at the [Hong Kong Polytechnic](/source/Hong_Kong_Polytechnic_University) for a diploma in textiles and weaving as the fashion industry in Hong Kong then was "booming".[1]

## Career

After graduating from the polytechnic, Chan became a marketing agent with [Polo Ralph Lauren](/source/Ralph_Lauren_Corporation). She then began working at [Esquel Group](/source/Esquel_Group), a textiles manufacturer. After having "burnt out", she decided to quit working with the company. She then began working with Artpreciation, an art gallery opened by a friend of hers in 1994. However, due to the upcoming [Handover of Hong Kong](/source/Handover_of_Hong_Kong), she left the gallery and came to Singapore, where she had previously frequently travelled for work, in 1995. In 1998, she came across Hong Kong artist [Cheung Yee](/source/Cheung_Yee_(sculptor)), an acquaintance of hers. She organised an exhibition of his works at the [Alliance Française de Singapour](/source/Alliance_Fran%C3%A7aise_de_Singapour) the following year. The experience "opened her eyes" and she opened the iPreciation art gallery in a shophouse along Kim Yam Road later that year.[1]

The gallery initially featured works by artists from Hong Kong and China, including artist and singer [Koo Mei](/source/Koo_Mei). In 2002, she organised a sculpture show, which was held at the water promenade at [One Fullerton](/source/One_Fullerton). In 2004, she organised an exhibition at the [Singapore Art Museum](/source/Singapore_Art_Museum) featuring works by Taiwanese sculptor [Ju Ming](/source/Ju_Ming) after she had received his approval. His works were also displayed along [Orchard Road](/source/Orchard_Road) and at the [Changi Airport](/source/Changi_Airport).[1] The exhibition was an "international hit" and it enabled her to work with younger and "riskier" artists, including [Hilmi Johandi](/source/Hilmi_Johandi) and Filip Gudovic.[2] She was also involved in the organising of an exhibition at the [Singapore Art Museum](/source/Singapore_Art_Museum) featuring artworks by novelist [Gao Xingjian](/source/Gao_Xingjian), which was held in October 2005. She had been awarded the [Singapore Tourism Board](/source/Singapore_Tourism_Board)'s NewTourism Entrepreneur of the Year Award earlier that year for her "work as a patron for local artists here and for bringing art into the museum."[3] The exhibition was the "first retrospective exhibition of Gao in Asia."[4]

In 2009, she opened a branch of iPreciation in Hong Kong. From 2010 to 2012, she continued to work with galleries and organise exhibitions, including the first solo-exhibition of local artist [Milenko Prvacki](/source/Milenko_Prvacki), which was held in Hong Kong in 2010.[1] She was also involved in an exhibition featuring works by French sculptor [Bernar Venet](/source/Bernar_Venet), which was held in the [Marina Bay](/source/Marina_Bay,_Singapore) area in 2012.[5] During this period, she also moved the iPreciation gallery from the [Fullerton Hotel](/source/The_Fullerton_Hotel_Singapore) to Cuscaden Road.[1] The opening exhibition of the gallery's new premises featured works by Prvacki, [Goh Beng Kwan](/source/Goh_Beng_Kwan), [Lee Wen](/source/Lee_Wen), [Qwek Wee Chew](/source/Qwek_Wee_Chew), [Tay Bak Chiang](/source/Tay_Bak_Chiang), [Suzann Victor](/source/Suzann_Victor) and [Michael Lee](/source/Michael_Lee_(artist)).[6] However, following the end of the Hong Kong branch's lease in 2013, she decided to close the branch.[1] By April 2015, she had exhibited works by local artists such as Prvacki, Tay, Lee Wen, [Tang Da Wu](/source/Tang_Da_Wu), [Boo Sze Yang](/source/Boo_Sze_Yang), and [Chen Sai Hua Kuan](/source/Chen_Sai_Hua_Kuan), as well as Ju Ming and Hong Kong artist [Tse Yim On](/source/Tse_Yim_On), at the Art Paris Art Fair.[2]

## Personal life

Chan is divorced. After leaving Shanghai with her family, she became stateless and used a [Hong Kong Certificate of Identity](/source/Hong_Kong_Certificate_of_Identity). On moving to Singapore, she became a Singaporean citizen. Soon after organising the Gao Xingjian exhibition in 2005, she fell ill.[7] She underwent treatment for [hypothyroidism](/source/Hypothyroidism) in the following year and was diagnosed with an auto-immune disease which was then "under control". However, her condition worsened in 2010 and she was diagnosed with [lupus](/source/Lupus), leaky kidneys and a low white blood cell count. Her health improved after two years.[1] On 5 November 2014, she launched the Reverie Rheumatology Research Fund with a charity dinner. She received the support of several artists, including Lee Wen, Michael Lee, Johandi, Prvacki, Boo, Tay, [Jeremy Sharma](/source/Jeremy_Sharma), Wee Kheng Li, [Donna Ong](/source/Donna_Ong) and [Luke Heng](/source/Luke_Heng), who all contributed artworks to the dinner for fundraising.[8] The fund was the first "dedicated fund for rheumatology research" in Singapore.[9]

In 2009, Chan's ex-boyfriend sued her for "oppressing his rights as a minority shareholder and of mismanaging iPreciation", of which he was also a director and shareholder. She was ordered by a judge to buy over his shares in the company. Adeline Chia of *[The Straits Times](/source/The_Straits_Times)* described the case as a "high-profile legal wrangle".[5]

## References

1. Huang, Lijie (9 June 2014). ["Artists' champion: Helina Chan wants to make local artists more 'visible'"](https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/arts/artists-champion-helina-chan-wants-to-make-local-artists-more-visible). *[The Straits Times](/source/The_Straits_Times)*. Retrieved 26 October 2024.

1. Yusof, Helmi (30 April 2015). ["Did you say 'difficult' art? She will sell it"](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/lifestyle/did-you-say-difficult-art-she-will-sell-it). *[The Business Times](/source/The_Business_Times_(Singapore))*. Retrieved 26 October 2024.

1. Ng, Shing Yi (2 March 2005). ["Sowing the seeds of art appreciation"](https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/today20050302-2.2.38.4). *[today](/source/Today_(website))*. Retrieved 26 October 2024.

1. ["Helina Chan: Balancing the arts"](https://www.proquest.com/docview/288428442). *[The Jakarta Post](/source/The_Jakarta_Post)*. 23 April 2006. Retrieved 27 October 2024.

1. Chia, Adeline (24 July 2011). ["Accidental dealer: They are glamorous, colourful and powerful players in the local art gallery scene: Meet the Tiger Ladies of Singapore art"](https://www.proquest.com/docview/878774120). *[The Straits Times](/source/The_Straits_Times)*. Retrieved 27 October 2024.

1. Yusof, Helmi (8 March 2013). ["Sizeable showcase of local art"](https://www.proquest.com/docview/1315189531). *[The Business Times](/source/The_Business_Times_(Singapore))*. Retrieved 27 October 2024.

1. Ma, Grace (15 January 2015). ["The Dream of Life"](https://www.tatlerasia.com/the-scene/people-parties/the-dream-of-life)

1. Yusof, Helmi (23 October 2014). ["Lupus-struck gallerist starts research fund"](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/lifestyle/lupus-struck-gallerist-starts-research-fund). *[The Business Times](/source/The_Business_Times_(Singapore))*. Retrieved 26 October 2024.

1. ["Sickly, but strong-willed"](https://www.proquest.com/docview/1647364664). *[The Straits Times](/source/The_Straits_Times)*. 22 January 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2024.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Helina Chan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helina_Chan) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helina_Chan?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.