'Don't wait for the permission - make it happen yourself'

Magnus Renfrew had his first taste of the art world at the age of 19 when he was taken aboard by Waddington Galleries - one of London's oldest commercial galleries - before entering university.

The exposure gave him the extraordinary opportunity to work with legendary art dealer Leslie Waddington, as well as a group of talented professionals in the industry.

"It was amazing working under Leslie Waddington who was one of the key figures of the British art scene of the past 50 years. Many of the team members who were supervising me at that time have gone on to become prominent gallerists in their own right, and I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to learn so much from them," says Renfrew.

Leslie Waddington, the late chairman of Waddington Galleries, was a pioneering art dealer who brought many contemporary artists into the global market, transforming the more conservative art market into a more contemporary one.

Through the experience he had gained at Waddington Galleries, Renfrew landed a specialist job at Bonhams - the world's premier auction house - after graduation from university in October 1999. Seven years later, he went to Shanghai to head up a team with the Contracts Gallery before joining Art HK in 2007 as its fair director. He helped found Art Basel after MCH Exhibition Ltd - the Swiss-owned group organizer of Art Basel - bought Asian Art Fairs Ltd, the owners of Art HK.

Renfrew was no stranger to trials and tribulations, having taken on and overcome numerous difficulties over the years. But, as he moved on and traveled extensively in his career, he found himself paying a heavy price - finding the time to spend with his family is becoming a tremendous luxury.

"I enjoy the challenges. There've been a number of professional challenges over the years, but one of the biggest for me has been to ensure that I give enough time to my family. That's something I'm constantly aware of. Family must come first. So, when I was in Hong Kong, I tried to spend as much time as I possibly could with my family."

Being a founder and leader of an art fair, Renfrew believes in a clear strategic vision and the ability to communicate clearly with the team, and that clients should be among the most important assets a leader should possess.

"I think a leader should be able to delegate to team members and to give them the authority and the space to do their job, without micromanaging them too closely."

For today's younger generation, Renfrew hopes to see them being adventurous and keen to take risks. He recalls that when he was choosing his university major, his sister had told him to pursue his own interest, so he decided to study art history, which is considered to be a "worthless" college major for most people.

"If you can make it financially feasible, do what you love because you'll be better at it and happier in your professional and private lives. And don't wait for permission. There's never a right time and nobody is going to give you that permission. So, make it happen yourself."

cherrylin@chinadailyhk.com

(HK Edition 08/25/2017 page9)