Swiss businessman and former diplomat Uli Sigg has spent over three decades assembling one of the largest private collections of contemporary Chinese art, comprising thousands of works. Artist Ai Weiwei has referred to Sigg as “my maker,” highlighting the collector’s pivotal role in promoting Chinese contemporary art on the global stage.
This collection matters because it represents a crucial bridge between Chinese artists and the international art world during a period of rapid cultural and political change. Sigg’s trove not only documents the evolution of contemporary Chinese art but also raises questions about the influence of Western collectors in shaping the narrative and market for art from China.