Musical
Robb Report Singapore Thought Leader: Andy Chia, co-founder and artistic director of SAtheCollective
“The arts belong in our homes, schools, and public spaces, shaping the way we live and relate to one another.” — Andy Chia, co-founder and artistic director of SAtheCollective
Andy Chia
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Art can often be a perplexing medium to understand. Regarded as impractical, time-consuming, and unreasonably obtuse in an economy as productivity-focused as Singapore’s, art routinely finds itself far removed from the mainstream currents of everyday life. Still, there are a rare few who believe in its power and are willing to break down walls to share its transformative potential.
Andy Chia, co-founder and artistic director of the interdisciplinary arts house SAtheCollective, is one such individual. Since co-founding the collective in 2011, Chia and his team have embarked on numerous creative ventures that blend sound, ritual, technology, and heritage into works that challenge conventional modes of art-making. From immersive performances that merge ancient Chinese instruments with electronics to collaborative residencies that explore ecological and cultural identity, SAtheCollective’s work appears to tread the line between tradition and experiment, local and universal, as well as body and sound.
Now a father of three, Andy Chia—who is the first non-native Chinese to receive a Master of Arts in dizi performance from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music—believes that an artist’s best work can only emerge when they feel rooted and whole.
Please share a moment that inspired personal reflection.
The birth of my first child profoundly shifted my worldview. It deepened my understanding of responsibility and presence. It made me rethink what kind of world and legacy I would like for him to grow up in. It became clear to me that my path as an artist wasn’t just about performance, but about transformation, holding space, and building futures.
How has your definition of success evolved over time?
In my youth, success meant recognition and mastery. Now, it’s when someone tells me they felt seen or that something stirred within them through our work.
How do you deal with self-doubt and uncertainty?
I recall a line from a book I read in my teens by David Eddings: “Events are like horses. Sometimes they run away. After they’ve run for a while, though, they’ll start to walk again.” That image has stayed with me. I’ve learnt to wait, to listen, and to trust that clarity will return when the noise subsides.
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from robreport.com