Ocula promotes art from Asia perspective

Simon Fisher, co-founder of Ocula

By Kwon Mee-yoo

Art connoisseurs who frequently search the Internet looking for information on contemporary artists or galleries representing them may be familiar with the pupil-like icon, Ocula, a website providing up-to-date news and in-depth information.

Simon Fisher, co-founder and director of the online art platform, visited Korea to give a lecture on the online art platform as a part of the Global Art Market Project organized by the Arts Council of Korea (ARKO) last week.

Fisher comes from a family gallery business, but instead of continuing it he eyed the Internet. The Fisher family business began in 1870 after his ancestors immigrated to New Zealand from England and introduced British artists.

"I was always interested in the form of communication and the relations between gallery and collector, curator and museum. It is a bit closed off and exclusive and it is not easy to access if one does not know about the art market very well," Fisher said. "However, the Internet is an unintimidating place and I launched a website in the mid-90s, making the gallery and the art market more accessible."

The name Ocula comes from the Latin word for the eye, as Fisher wanted to open up a world that was previously exclusive with the help of technology.

"In dealing, we thought traveling customers and busy dealers needed a quicker response and more engagement. You can access and navigate art information more easily on Ocula," he explained.

The main foundation of the site is "relationship," sticking to the traditional backbone of the art market. "Galleries need relationships to survive. We provide information on what exhibition is going on now and what is worth seeing. We liaise between the seller and buyer, creating connectivity for collectors, curators and galleries," Fisher said.

However, Ocula does not sell art. Instead, it connects galleries and artists with collectors, curators and museums. What sets Ocula apart from numerous websites that provide exhibition information is that it provides a curated environment.

"When collectors and museum curators visit, they don't see all of the exhibits, but a selection of focused, serious ones," Fisher said. "We understand the art market. We are not technology people coming to the art market, but art people trying to bring a bigger audience to galleries. Curation, seriousness and quality over quantity are our principles."

Starting in a modest, private environment in New Zealand, Ocula has expanded to cover international galleries and has a growing audience in Korea as well. Currently Ocula has partnerships with a handful of Korean galleries, including Kukje Gallery, PKM Gallery, One and J. Gallery and Gallery Baton.

Fisher also emphasized that Ocula offers a unique Asia Pacific perspective, not coming from London or New York.

"We have partner galleries across the globe, but are strongly focused on the Asia Pacific region. Interest in this market is on the rise among European and North American galleries as well," he said.

At the same time, Fisher is expanding the role of Ocula as an educator and facilitator. The first publication of the Ocula magazine, which compiles the highlights of Ocula Conversations, in-depth features and interviews of contemporary artists provided by Ocula online, is being released in time for Art Basel Hong Kong, slated for March 24 to 26.

"We supplement our site with interviews of artists, curators, gallerists and museum directors and the magazine makes people more aware of what is going on in the market. We didn't think we would go into the publishing business; but by doing so we can share this wealth of information," he said.

The Global Art Market Project consists of five symposiums and three publications as a part of the organization's effort to promote Korean art overseas. Along with Fisher, Tim Etchells, founder of contemporary art fairs such as Art HK, Art 13 London and Sydney Contemporary are working for survival strategies for art fairs.