5 years ago, Mr. Tan realized his warehouse was filling. He needed more space. 30 years of buying art pieces meant more and more storage space had to be acquired but in the end, perhaps it was time to go through the collection and focus on his particular interest in post-war Nanyang painters. So he finally began to auction or sell off some of his collection.
2018 — Auctioned off 3 pieces by Taiwanese artists, bought in 1985 for $35,000, now sold for $135,000.
2019 — Sold by private sale I piece from a Chinese artist, bought in 1986 for $50,000, now sold for $250,000.
2019 — Auctioned off 4 pieces by various Chinese artists, bought in 1990 for $250,000, now sold for $1,250,000.
2020 — Sold by private sale 4 pieces by Taiwanese artists, bought in 1990 for $250,000, now sold for $750,000.
2020 — Sold by private sale I early Singaporean piece, bought in 1992 for $200,000, now sold for $1,200,000.