He gave up bank job to hunt for fossil exhibits

SINGAPORE - Bank executive Cliff Hartono quit his cushy job with Credit Suisse in London last year to scour the world for fossils.

Now his haul - ranging from a marine reptile from the early Jurassic age to a palm fossil found in the Green River Formation of Wyoming - is being exhibited at a gallery in Tanjong Pagar. It is believed to be the only standalone fossil gallery in Asia.

German-born Mr Hartono, who grew up in Singapore and returned to live here after working overseas, has been a dinosaur and fossil fan since his childhood.

He encountered his first when his businessman father brought home a fossil of an extinct marine animal when he was aged five.

"It was mind-blowing to know that it's 360 million years old. I kept it next to me, near my pillow, for some time," said the 28-year-old.

He went on to scour neighbouring gardens, forests and beaches using plastic spades and shovels.

"Of course I didn't find anything. But its every digger's dream to find a dinosaur fossil," said Mr Hartono.

After stepping onto the corporate ladder, his passion was rekindled when he studied and worked in New York and London, where he frequented their many natural history museums.

He spent two years getting to know paleontologists from various universities and museums before deciding to take the plunge and hunt for fossils full-time.

It helped that he was getting requests from friends wanting to buy fossils to display at home.

"I was convinced that besides being scientifically important, they are beautiful pieces that can be used for decor," he said.

The exhibition at his gallery in Tanjong Pagar Distripark is open for public viewing from today to May 5 , 12pm to 7pm, except for Monday, when it will be closed. All 14 pieces are up for sale.

One highlight is a 2m-long, 180 million-year-old fossil of a marine reptile - called an Ichthyosaur - from Germany. It has a "six-figure" price tag.

Ichthyosaurs, Greek for "fish lizards", were the top sea predators of the Jurassic age. Besides the fine details of its skeletal structure, viewers will notice its disproportionally big eyes that allowed it to see in deep water.

Other exhibits include fossils of a sea lily, dragonfly, stingray and turtle. They were found in countries such as the United States and Germany.

Mr Hartono shortlists digging sites based on recommendations from experts, then joins local diggers using equipment such as excavators, trucks and hammers.

The pieces are then sent to laboratories for preparation work and cleaning before being shipped to Singapore.

Mr Hartono founded this gallery with the support of a Singaporean partner who was a friend at university.

"Besides collectors, professionals, retirees and even children have come by. I hope that the pieces will spark the interest and imagination of the kids," said Mr Hartono, who also has a personal fossil collection of over 20 pieces.

He plans to hold two exhibitions a year, and also hopes to support the work of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, which is being built.

The Lee Kong Chian museum's project manager, Dr Tan Swee Hee, said there is no significant public collection of fossils in Singapore that he is aware of.

"According to literature, Singapore does have fossils of its own, but they have unfortunately been lost over time.

"It will be great if some of these can be rediscovered so that we might understand what Singapore's environment was like in prehistoric days," said Dr Tan.

Mr Hartono agreed, adding: "The fossils give us a glimpse into a lost world."

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