Metis’ Co-Founder Cliff Hartono speaks about the formation of Metis Art and how he began his own journey of collecting coming from a finance background.
1. What is the story of Metis? How did it come to be?
I was always curious about the art world, but as an outsider, I sometimes found it bewildering and intimidating. After meeting Christina, she would take me to gallery openings, performance art events and art fairs. This deepened my interest, but on many occasions, contemporary art practices still left me befuddled.
I realised that I was not alone — many of my friends from a finance, business or legal background were equally curious but didn’t know where to start. There are plenty of books and resources out there, but so much so that it can feel overwhelming. I knew Christina had the knowledge and ability to guide others like myself to grow from novices to patrons. We started Metis soon after.
Cliff Hartono
2. As Co-Founder and Director of Business Development, you helped shape Metis’ foundational curriculum, The Tetrad. How has the course been of value to you personally?
The Tetrad has provided me with a strong framework and foundation to appreciate art. The curriculum covers a wide variety of topics — everything from art history, theory, vocabulary, the ecosystem to the basics of collecting. It has enabled me to see art in its proper context and to connect the different dots across what can be quite a complex field. The framework has also increased my interest to read more deeply, and enabled me nurture my sensibilities towards the visual arts.
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3. Coming from a diverse finance background from hedge funds and start-ups, you split your time between art dealing and consulting for businesses. How do you reconcile these two worlds?
I find the art world fascinating from an economic and business perspective. There are certain nuances and quirks to the world of art dealing that can’t be applied to any other industry. My finance background has come in very useful as the financial markets are much more mature than the art market. I try to bring a certain rigour and professionalism to our art dealings to ensure that our clients and partners get the best possible service from us.
What makes art interesting is how it is valued and what it values. People often feel that art has intangible value. As Oscar Wilde once said, “A cynic knows the price of everything, but the value of nothing.” To me, art is invaluable because it holds some of our most important assets — our cultural, intellectual, historical and social heritage.
Uji Hahan Handoko, ‘Money Man’, 2019, 57 x 47 x 83, cast bronze. Courtesy of Gajah Gallery.
4. Are you an art collector yourself? If so, can you say a little bit about your own collection?
I think I’m still early in my collecting journey. There’s definitely been some misses in the early years when I didn’t know what I was doing. Some collectors who mentor Christina and I call this our “tuition fee”!
More recently, I have been fascinated by Indonesian artists like Uji “Hahan” Handoko. I own one of his first bronze works that was exhibited in Yogyakarta in 2019 and more recently acquired his reinterpretation of the Indonesian Old Master Raden Saleh’s work. I tend to like art that has a playful, humorous aspect to it.
Private Metis Alumni tour of ‘Flesh & Spirit’ at Primz Gallery in January 2021.
5. Stepping into the art world can be intimidating. What advice would you give to someone wanting to start their own journey of art discovery and collecting?
Look at a lot of art to train your eye, learn, read and contemplate, and of course, have fun! Sometimes I can tell whether an artwork is good or bad without really knowing why — it’s just an instinct that you start to develop after seeing a ton of art over time. Learning from more seasoned collectors is another good way to appreciate art — they can share their hits and misses that can make your journey much smoother. And of course, since our curriculum is designed specifically to make the art world more approachable, come attend the Tetrad!
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Connect with Cliff:
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The Tetrad will take place on 15 & 22 May at Straits Clan. Find curriculum details and registration here.
